An alternative view on life during WW1 in Halifax, Nova Scotla based on true events. Lives are shattered as a huge explosion rips through the harbours and surrounding residential areas thousands of miles away from the battlefields of France. Nora a young nurse and Charlotte a first-time mum survive the blast whilst many are killed and seriously injured and they have to adapt to this sudden change in their circumstances. Nora finds herself hiding a pregnancy and adapting to this oncoming event whilst Charlotte, a young widow has been separated from her child. As the story develops, friendships are built and choices made about the future

A well written, interesting read, so good to see the inner strength shining through in these unassuming women.

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

When the World Fell Silent was an excellent book. I feel like anything I say won’t do it justice

Halifax was a major port during WWI. Ships carried troops & supplies and it was an assembly point for convoys headed to Europe.
In 1917 Halifax suffered a devastating loss when 2 ships collided, one was carrying explosives. Over 25,000 people lost their homes, 9,000+ were injured and over 2,000 people died.

In When the World Fell Silent, the author introduces us to a fictional story based on well researched true events. Not only were the characters engaging, the reader feels a sense of empathy for the people of Halifax during this time.

When the World Fell Silent was published on August 1, 2024. I am thankful to NetGalley, HarperCollins & One More Chapter for giving me the opportunity to read this book for my honest review.

Nora and Charlotte find themselves in the Canadian Nursing Corp during World War I. They become best friends and are making a new life for themselves when a great tragedy hits the Halifax Harbor.. Brings to us a history lesson most of us are unaware of happening. How they survive is a lesson in human resilience . A must read!!

When the World Fell Silent by Donna Jones Alward was a beautifully written story about Halifax. You could put yourself in the place of the characters.

Great historical fiction book about a powerful event that I had no knowledge.

I'm so glad that Donna Jones Alward wrote When the World Fell Silent so that this Canadian WWI tragedy (the most powerful man made explosion until the WWII bombings in Japan) is not forgotten.

The Point of View alternates between two women, one is an unmarried nurse and the other a young war widow.

I was absolutely riveted by When the World Fell Silent. Highly recommended!

Many thanks to author Donna Jones Alward! And also to NetGalley and publisher One More Chapter for approving my request to read When the World Fell Silent in exchange for an honest review. 380 pages. Publication date is July 19, 2024.

In her historical fiction debut, New York Times bestselling author Donna Jones Alward deftly weaves a remarkable story of two women’s lives impacted by the Great War and a horrific maritime disaster in When the World Fell Silent.

We meet Nora Crowell and Charlotte Campbell in Halifax, Nova Scotia at a time when the town’s port served as an important harbor not only for traditional seafaring but for military vessels in WWI.

Nora is an unmarried nurse at Camp Hill Hospital, caring for veterans with devastating injuries and lives with her sister’s family. Charlotte is a young war widow with a toddler, who is treated practically as an indentured servant by her late husband’s family.

After the December 6, 1917 tragedy, the largest man-made explosion in history prior to the bombing of Hiroshima in 1945, decimates Halifax, killing roughly 2,000 people and injuring 9,000, for those that survived, life will never be the same.

Jones Alward paints not only the women but also her supporting characters with such rich detail, both subtle and real, in this gripping and emotional tale.

As Nora’s and Charlotte’s stories began to intertwine ever more closely, I found myself wishing I could read even faster than I usually do to move the words from the page to my brain, to my heart more quickly.

I highly recommend When the World Fell Silent for fans of historical fiction, fans of World War I-era fiction and novels with strong women characters. Fans of Donna Jones Alward’s romance novels will be also be pleased. I received this advanced reader copy of When the World Fell Silent from Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter courtesy of NetGalley.

Donna Jones Alward is a new author for me. Her book is amazing. It's so very touching and emotional. What she has written here is a beautiful story of a tragedy that actually happened in 1917 in Halifax Harbour. In Canada.

Two women from different families. From different backgrounds, but very much alike in so many ways. Nora and Charlotte.

Nora was a nurse and loved her job. She had no inkling of wanting to be a wife or mother. She had bigger plans and was on course to achieving them. She loved having fun and fond just a bit to much fun with Alley. He was set to leave for the war and they had a night of drinking and partying that ended with Nora expecting a baby. She lived with her sister and her sister's husband(who was gone to war) and their two daughters. Alley left and that was that. Nora was left to deal with things on her own but her sister promised to help her any way she could.

Charlotte was an orphan who had lost her family in a house fire. She married a man that she loved deeply. When he left to go overseas his family promised to take good care of her. And their unborn child. Charlotte's husband was killed in this war. His family did not treat her good. She was more or less just a slave to them. At least to his mother. Her and her baby lived in a cold attic room.

When an explosion hit the area from a burning ship many people were injured and killed. Everyone Charlotte knew. Nora's entire family except one niece. You will get to know these two women and care about them. What happens after the losses is truly awful. So much death and destruction.

This author did a great job of making you feel the sadness. And the happiness too. She took this historical event and did some great research. Kept the facts straight from what I read in her Author's Notes. It's a must read by the way. She took these families and made you feel their pain. From such deep loss to a love that one never knew she really wanted. To finding a lost child. A lost family member. And the hospital scenes read so vividly. I ached for the people who were hurt. Cringed at the thought of a bucket of eyeballs. Wept at the loss of children, sisters, mothers and fathers. Husbands. I felt so sad for Charlotte and so happy for Nora. Both women had such heartaches and losses. Both had ups and downs. I absolutely adored Neil. He was the best....

Thank you #NetGalley, #DonnaJonesAlward, #HarperCollinsUK for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

Five huge stars.

Nora Crowell leaves Chester and studies to be a nurse, she wants to do more with her life than be a wife and mother like her sister Jane. Nora works at Camp Hill Hospital, she cares for soldiers who have been wounded in The Great War and she’s a lieutenant in the Canadian Army Nursing Corp and would like to serve overseas. Nora lives at her sisters boarding house in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Jane’s husband is fighting in the war, and she has two young daughters Evelyn and Clara.

Charlotte Campbell is a widow, her husband Frank died in the war and she lives with his family and they treat her like a servant. What keeps her going is her daughter Aileen, when she can takes her baby for a walk in her pram and they sleep in the attic together and Charlotte is plotting their escape.

Both women have no idea disaster is about to strike in the busy Halifax Harbour, where convoys leave for Britain and France and what starts off as an ordinary day, and the 6th of December 1917 will be remembered as the date of the biggest tragedies in Canadian history occurred.

A loud noise and smoke is what the residents first see and hear when two ships collide in the harbour, lots of people are already there and others go to have a look and are gazing out their house windows. Nora is busy taking care of patients and some are suffering from shell shock, the blast causes the men to panic and their trying to calm them down.

They hear what’s happened, the hospital prepares for injured people, and they have no idea that in a few hours every medical facility in Halifax will be overrun by wounded civilians, the damage to both people and buildings was unimaginable and the chaos afterwards.

I received a copy of When the World Fell Silent by Donna Jones Alward from HarperCollins UK and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. I knew Canadian soldiers fought in The Great War and I had no idea in Halifax and nearby Dartmouth were involved in one of the worst disasters in the country’s history and it happened at the same time and the widespread devastation. A narrative about loss, thousands of people were killed, wounded and missing, buildings raised to the ground by the explosion and fires, it changed what duties nurses could do and the two women became connected in an unexpected way. My favorite characters were Nora and Jane, Captain Neil McLeod, Mrs. Thompson, Evelyn, John and Marvin and poor Charlotte.

A well written and heart-rending book about sisterhood, the importance of family and community, one of the best historical fiction novels I have read this year and five stars from me.

When the World Fell Silent is a must read for any historical fiction readers. It is the best book I have read this summer. By Donna Jones Alward who usually writes romance this is one powerful historical story. I started it one evening thinking I will just get to know the main characters then read more the next day. At 2:00 in the morning my husband woke up saying do you know what time it is? I did not. After starting to read I had been transformed to Halifax 1917-1918. Instead, I had been there beside Nora and Charlotte, in the hospital, in the boarding house and in the morgue. While I knew about the explosion, I had forgotten about the Spanish Flu that arrived on the heels of WWI.

What a story! I loved all the characters, easily seeing how Neil had fallen for Nora. I also loved Charlotte, was anxious if also eager to see how her story would play out. The losses, the tragedy, the resilient spirits of those who care for those wounded, rebuilt the area and created families out of those left is inspiring. A part of history not as well-known but should be, now told in a mighty way.

What beautifully written, intriguing, and heart-rending book! When The World Fell Silent is based around a little-known historical event, a massive explosion in Halifax Harbour in December 1917 that killed over a thousand people and injured around 9000. The story unfoldsthrough the lives of two women, Lieutenant Nora Crowell, a Royal Canadian Army Medical Corp nurse based at Camp Hill Hispital in Halifax. Nora is career-driven at a time when women were expected to stop work when they married or fell pregnant. Unfortunately for Nora, a one-night stand with a soldier about to ship out has resulted in an unwanted pregnancy. Added to this worry is the fact that the explosion has killed her parents, her sister and her baby niece. I was so impressed with Nora’s resolve to keep her baby and also raise her sister’s five year-old daughter, who was not affected by the blast. Also impacted by the explosion is Charlotte, a war widow with a baby daughter. Charlotte is badly injured and her daughter has disappeared, presumed dead. I loved both these women and fell a little bit in love with Captain Neil McLeod, an army doctor who works with Nora and subsequently moves into her boarding house. All three characters are superbly developed, with plenty of flaws but also plenty to love and admire. I loved the insight into the injuries and damage sustained by the blast and the way the recovery efforts were depicted. It was devastating, at times horrific and yet filled with hope for the future. I really had no idea how the story would end and I’m pleased to say that I didn’t guess until the last pages. As debut norvels go, this one is an absolute beauty, an utterly riveting read and a story I am happy to recommend.

The book is well written and researched about the Halifax explosion during WW1 This explosion in Halifax destroyed the entire area and killed many family members. This was a well researched novel, one that pulled me in from the first page to the last. Despite the tragedy that occurred, it was beautifully written....highly recommended. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 since I stayed up late just to read another chapter.

After the first two chapters, I will admit, I sighed and wasn't sure if I'd like the rest of the book. I love historical fiction and since I'd watched an episode of CBC's "Land and Sea" about the Halifax explosion years ago, I'd always thought it would make a compelling background for a book. The first chapter, however, was somewhat of a "flash forward" before the actual story started. While these sometimes work, I find usually they just make things confusing and would honestly prefer if they weren't done as often, especially when much of the same thoughts and action is repeated again when the event actually happens. The first chapter with Nora and her sister also was somewhat annoying - the dialogue between Nora and her sister seemed somewhat forced,

Once the shaky start was over, however, I found it hard to put down. Some of the character growth Nora went through was maddening and at times, frustrating, but it made the story compelling and believable.

If you're a fan of historical fiction, don't miss out on this book. My only real wish was that it kept going.

I learnt so much from this excellent novel set in Canada during the First World War; I had never heard of the devastating explosion in the harbour at Halifax which flattened part of the town and killed thousands. But as the inciting incident for the book, it worked perfectly.

We meet two women; Charlotte who’s basically a drudge for her late husband’s in-laws, and Nora, a highly motivated army nurse at a local hospital. When it was clear Nora was going to fall pregnant just as her boyfriend went overseas I let out an inward groan, but her story panned out so differently to how I expected it was a very satisfying read. And the characterisation surrounding her narrative was so well done I was completely invested in it and found the book hard to put down.

I didn’t feel quite the same about Charlotte, and I think in a way the prologue spoilt her part of the book for me and my one small criticism is that I felt it was unnecessary. But ultimately the women’s two stories needed each other and the whole novel wound together really well.

I thoroughly recommend this superbly researched and beautifully written novel.

When The World Fell Silent is a heartwarming story set in the aftermath of one of Canada's greatest tragedies - The Halifax Explosion. In 1917, it was the largest human-made explosion to date and was instigated by one ship colliding with another that held explosives which ignited, decimating the Canadian port city and claiming the lives of 2000 people and injuring thousands more.

The book begins strong with dramatic descriptions of the lead up and aftermath of the explosion which puts readers right in the middle of the devastation. The explosion falls to the background for the remainder of the book as the two female protagonists, and how their lives have suddenly changed, take the reigns.

Nora is a skilled nurse who excels at her job, and she doesn't plan to settle down into 'domestic bliss' like so many other young women. Charlotte is a young war widow and new mother who struggles living with her verbally abusive in-laws and wants a better life for her and her daughter. Life takes drastic turns for both women who are forced into situations they never could have imagined. But despite their different circumstances, their voices tended to blend together on the page, so I was glad their names were included at the start of each chapter.

This is a quiet, somber story with a couple of twists and a satisfyingly predictable (if a tad contrived) ending. Readers who enjoy 'clean' reads will swoon at the sweet (no spice) romance and the topics raised and the attention to a lesser-known historical event make an excellent book club selection for readers who enjoy lighter Historical Fiction.

Well-researched and based on real people and historical events, When The World Fell Silent blends intense descriptions of the explosion with a compassionate look at how the event impacted the lives of two women as they traverse love, loss, trauma and finding the tenacity to carry on.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Harper Collins Canada for the advanced digital copy of this book which was given in exchange for my honest review.

A gripping, emotional novel that describes an event that was previously unknown to most readers.

I had never heard of the 1917 explosion in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was shocked by the devastation and loss it caused. Overshadowed by the horrific war happening overseas, this disaster seems to be lost to history, and I am thankful that Alward brings it to life with her immersive story-telling.

Nora and Charlotte’s stories are intertwined as the tragedy strikes their home, leaving death and destruction in its wake. Both women are set on an emotional roller coaster that feels real and accurate. My heart was in my throat several times as the women grappled with events and situations that would leave most people broken and unable to go on. One never truly knows how they’d react in an emergency, and I hope I’d be as strong and courageous as Nora and as caring as Charlotte.

Alward’s writing was beautiful and grabbed me from the start. Her descriptions of the wounds and decimation of the city were full of historical details and based on eyewitness accounts, which really brought it to life.

I highly recommend this book to any historical fiction fan. It’s the reason I love the genre!

4.5 stars rounded up

This book is a heartbreaking, but also heartwarming story based on the devastating explosion in 1917 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, which occurred after two ships collided, one of which was carrying highly explosive munitions, resulting in the destruction of some areas with almost 2000 deaths and many thousands wounded. While the story centres largely around the devastating explosion and the aftermath, there are mentions of WW1 and the Spanish Flu epidemic. I was unaware of this devastating event prior to reading this book - it was a great way to learn about some of this history.

The story is told through two memorable and lovable characters. First, we have Nora, a strong, determined young woman who longs to be a nurse. She completes her training and moves to Halifax where she works at Camp Hill, a new hospital for treating injured soldiers. She is frustrated by society’s expectation that she should marry and bear children, but she has other plans and is determined that her gender will not dictate her future. Then we have Charlotte, a war widow with a baby daughter, Aileen. She lives with her deceased husband’s family and is treated poorly, so she is doing all she can to achieve her dream of a new life where it can just be herself and Aileen. Their lives are forever changed after the explosion on that fateful day in 1917, and each must come to terms with their losses and the trauma of the event. New arrival Dr. Neil McLeod steps in to support Nora through her darkest days, and theirs is a beautiful story of friendship and unconditional support. Other characters will warm your heart too, there is a great sense of community, sisterhood, and family bonds. The story also deals with PTSD, something that little was known about at the time.

You will laugh, you will cry, this story is beautifully told and hard to put down. Such a roller coaster of emotions - my heart broke as each woman navigated their new normal, their pain was palpable as they came to terms with everything and everyone they’d lost; my spirits were lifted as each woman found moments of peace in their new life. The author’s notes at the end are very informative and allow the reader to separate fact from fiction. Donna has a lovely easy writing style that draws you in. I couldn’t put this book down and recommend you add it to your list of books to read. I hope to read more by this author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and Donna Jones Alward for a digital arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Holy moly, Donna Jones Alward knows how to tell a story that will have you by the throat within the first few words of the prologue. Nora, a Blue Bird nurse in Halifax at Camp Hill Hospital and Charlotte, a war widow and mother, are achingly real women going through the unimaginable when their worlds change in that moment when the pending explosion sucked all of the surrounding air into itself; in that moment when the world fell silent seconds before erupting into ‘the largest manmade explosion in history until the atom bomb in 1945.’

A story of grief, survival, trauma, overwhelming loss, heartache, new beginnings, perseverance, and learning to live again, “When the World Fell Silent” brings to life the blistering moments before, during, and after the Halifax Explosion in a way that will have you on the edge of your seat, in tears and holding your loved ones close as you relive the aftermath of one of history’s most defining moments in Canada. I cried, I laughed, I read at least a quarter of the book with one hand over my face as I tried to imagine being in the hell of those precious life altering moments. I cheered, mourned, and rejoiced with Nora and Charlotte as they attempted to put one foot in front of the other trying to rebuild and recover with insurmountable odds.

A powerhouse novel that you won’t be able to put down, Donna Alward has cemented herself among the best historical fiction writers in the world who will take your breath away as she builds an immersive world filled with heart and rich with historical detail.

Thank you so very much, @donnaalward for approaching me to read your beautiful book. It truly was an honour to receive an advance digital copy on @netgalley

The paperback will be out Aug. 1, ebook & audio available July 19, 2024! This is a must read!

#netgalley #donnaalward #whentheworldfellsilent #halifaxexplosion #halifaxhistory #canadianhistory #historicalfiction #wwihistoricalfiction #wwi #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookgeek #bookworm #booknerd #highlyrecommend #youshouldreadthis #bookreview #mustread #bookrecommendation #femaleauthor #femalewriter #bluebird #camphillhospital #onemorechapter @onemorechapterhc

This was a lovely, heartwarming story told with a lot of depth and sensitivity. It's about two women who are impacted by a terrible catastrophe with severe losses and what happens to them as a result.

I had never heard about the Halifax explosion, but it was the largest man-made explosion before the atomic bomb. Two ships collided near Halifax in 1918, one carrying incendiary material, and the resulting explosion killed 2,000 people.

This is a historical novel based on these incidents.

Pros:
I found the story interesting and engaging. It's told from two viewpoints, and their narratives connect toward the end. It was easy to follow. Each character has a different vibe, which made the story feel more real. Parts of the ending were predictable, but the very end was a surprise for me and I really enjoyed it.
The plot was a good combination of "not everything goes right" and "there's goodness in the world." There's a good amount of each.

Cons:
I didn't connect so well with the main character. She was a little too "good," as were several other characters. There were parts of the story that didn't make sense to me, such as why grandparents weren't coming to get their newly parentless grandkids, somehow leaving it to an aunt to deal with it all. When I start to think about questions like that instead of getting lost in the story, there's something missing.

Readers who like historical fiction will enjoy this book, and it has the right amount of romance that adds to the story without overwhelming it.

3.5 stars.

When the World Fell Silent by Donna Jones Alward is story of two women and the devastating impacts that WWI and the Halifax Explosion had on their lives. Nora is a nurse living at her sister’s boarding house along with her two nieces, her brother-in-law at the front. She discovers herself pregnant and unmarried. While Charlotte is a widowed mother living with her deceased husband’s difficult family. The day of the explosion Nora is at work while her sister, one niece and parents were near the harbour front. Charlotte had taken her young daughter out to run some errands, likely saving her life because her in-laws house was impacted by the blast. Nora tends to the wounded and Charlotte ends up a patient, her young daughter missing. Following the explosion they both need to readjust their lives. The novel is heart breaking but really allows both Nora and Charlotte to demonstrate their resilience and growth. Seemingly well-researched novel and the first I have read that focuses on this piece of Halifax history.

Thank you to the publisher, HarperCollins Uk, One More Chapter, NetGalley and the author for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an outstanding novel based on a devastating event in Halifax during WWI. The story is told while centered on two fictional women who have different plans for their lives, but each life took major turns on the day of the explosion. Each lost loved family members, and learned adjust course and to continue on after the life-altering event.

The story is beautifully told and the characters live through real-life issues. Life was very different in 1917 and women had limited roles and they had to fit into defined slots. I've always enjoyed Donna Alward books because she's a great story teller and I knew a little about this dramatic event. I've been waiting a long time for this book to come out and I was thrilled to receive an advance copy.