This book was definitely emotional, as I think most books about WWII are. I can't say I didn't know what I was getting myself into! This book does an excellent job of painting the picture of what some Germans experienced during the war - finding themselves complicit in unbelievable situations due to not truly knowing what was going on, pretending to not know or see what was happening, or being unsure how to keep themselves and their families safe without knowing who they can trust. Everyone was under scrutiny in Hitler's Germany and one misstep would mean your demise.

Emilie's courage in some dark situations was commendable. I have no idea how she was able to make it through some days without completely melting down. The concept of Emilie finding the love of her life in a concentration camp is bananas - how in the world would you sleep at night or be able to function? And yet, she found ways to help him and his friends, cared for him as best she could, and continued to try to bring down the operation from the inside. Kudos to her. How in the world Danner is able to buoy himself behind those walls, day after day, is just unfathomable. Ryan did a great job jumping between past and present timelines. discussing their childhood and what lead up to Danner's capture.

Overall, this book was great. Thank you so much NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book.

This was such a heartbreaking and emotional read at times. As soon as I finished the first few chapters I just knew I was in for a tear jerker of a read. An utterly amazing story that really made me think of how brave and heroic some people were back during those very difficult times. In one way I was so eager to finish this book to find out how it all would end for everyone and in another way I didn’t want this heartbreaking story to end. It’s been a long time since I felt this way by a book I’ve read and it will stay with me for a very long time.

Oh, my heart, this book deserves nothing less than a five-star review. If I could give it more I would.
I was immersed in the characters and their situations as I read.
My heart ached as I read. Why is life so harsh, so unfair to some just because of their nationality, while the "right" people seem to have it so easy in life?
Based on true events, the book is heart wrenching, it brought tears to my eyes more than once.
Growing up in Munich, Emilie has had a happy childhood with many friends to play with, of both sexes. They go in and out of each other's house like as though they were their own.
Emilie and Danner.......... best of childhood friends to young sweethearts. Then he is lost to her as they are separated because he is Jewish and he doesn't want to see her suffer because of him, and her heart is broken. With her heart broken she marries Otto, a doctor. Nurse Emilie's patient is strikingly familiar, that voice she knows it. Doctor Otto's instructions are not just to treat the patient but to do horrible things to the patients that will result in their deaths. She is sickened when she comes to the realization, who is this man she married that has been lying to her?
With her childhood dreams of love fading before her eyes will she be able to do what she knows her heart is calling her to do? Based on truth it's important to not forget these dark times lest we repeat this time where so many suffered needlessly.
Realistic and poignant, reading this will evoke a variety of emotions. The women are the strong characters in this book, their strength turns the darkness into recovery and positivity. A not to miss read.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Emilie and Danner were childhood friends, along with Otto, Felix and Gerty. They played in the streets of Munich, growing up in the same neighborhood. Emilie and Danner were the very best of friends and knew that they would grow up and get married. But when the war started, Danner had to move to Poland with his family. He was the only one in the circle of friends that was Jewish. Emilie and her husband Otto move from Munich to Dachau. Emilie is a nurse to her husband Otto, a doctor. They have a job at the Dachau prison camp, she is told that it is for research, and that all the prisoners are criminals. Emilie soon discovers that isn’t the case. Her husband is lying to her. And when Emilie recognizes one of the prisoners is a childhood friend of her’s named Danner, she knows for sure they aren’t there for research and the prison isn’t used to house criminals. She remembers Danner to be one of the kindest people she knows. When Otto tries to convince Emilie that they are actually there to murder the prisoners or they themselves will be killed. Emilie has to find a way to escape the horrible place, but she will not leave without saving Danner.

The Nurse behind the Gates is an amazing and heartbreaking historical fiction written by Shari J. Ryan. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, though it had me in tears for majority of the story. I wanted to read this in one sitting but it was too hard for me…I had to stop to take a breath. This emotional read is necessary to remind us of the horrible time of World War II, and the resolve of those that survived. I enjoyed this story very much, keep tissues near by because you will definitely need them. Ryan is amazing in her writing style, rich research and pulling the reader into the story, making you feel like it’s happening right before your eyes. I enjoyed this story very much and I highly recommend it.

Rating- 5 stars
(E-ARC)
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for letting me have a proof of this book. Thanks for letting me give my honest opinion of this book.

This book was set in World War 2 which had flashbacks of when Germany became occupied by the Nazis to the end of World War Two when America stopped it. This focused on 4 friends who grew up together in the same neighbourhood but later goes to focus on mainly three of them- Emilie, Otto and Danner. As they all grow up, the world they know began to change and Germany is never the same again. When the Jewish laws are enforced, Danner is ripped away from his friends and Emilie- the one he had loved since they were children. Danner pushes Emilie away in order to protect her and asks Otto to marry her and keep her safe. Little does he know that Otto would be working in the concentration camp where he is murdering innocent victims and has also lied to his wife about the things she would be doing there. But when she hears a familiar phrase and sees Danner she know she will do everything she can do to save him.

This book was super emotional and made me cry so much. Usually romances can be hit and miss for me but the relationship that Danner and Emilie had was beautiful and so romantic. From the flashback scenes to the current scenes, you could really show the love and appreciation they had for each other. The things that Danner went through was just heart-breaking and you really felt for him throughout this novel. The dual povs between Emilie and Danner was great but I would have really liked to see a few povs of Otto's in the book too. I am still thinking about them both now.

As much as Otto made the wrong choices and was heavily influenced by his uncle, he did not deserve what happened to him. The scene where he was punishing himself for what he did was awful to read. In fact, the whole chapter was a hard read and I did end up putting it down due to how distressing and emotional it was. A few trigger warnings could be useful for people who could struggle. I also really enjoyed the flashbacks but sometimes felt like they did not fit at times or were not needed. For example, the prologue was found in Chapter 17 which made me skip as it was the same.

Furthermore, this book was really addicting and emotional but I could not put this down and constantly wanted to know what was going to happen. This was my first book by the author and I am really impressed and have now found another author to add to the ongoing list of historical fiction authors. I am really excited to pick up another book by this author which follows a side character in this novel.

During this book there was two songs which really related to this book:
Labour by Paris Paloma
Enchanted by Taylor Swift

The Nurse Behind the Gates by Shari J. Ryan tore my heart into tiny shards as I read of persecution, heartache and sorrow but also glued them back together with beads of hope and friendship.

During the devastation of World War II, newlyweds Emilie and Otto moved from Munich to a gorgeous new home at the Dachau concentration camp where Otto worked as a doctor. Though free thinker Emi had an education in nursing, she was a housewife which grew tedious. She was told the camp housed political prisoners but when she discovered horrors herself, she knew she couldn't look the other way. Seeing her dearest friend Danner amongst the inmates was unbearable and deeply impacted her life from that moment. Her passion for nursing had been a practical help before but never like this. She had to pursue her calling while navigating the war and politics as well as her marriage. At only twenty two she was feisty and idealistic with slivers of naivete. But war ages everyone and changes everything.

The couple, Danner, Gertie and Felix were great friends in their youth. But Danner stood out as a German Jew. His deep bond with Emi was special and wrenched my heart. Watching the characters evolve during a horrendous time in history was compelling. War is never pleasant to read about but so very important.

This author is an auto-read for me, no need to read the synopses. Her writing is the epitome of emotive perfection, shatteringly beautiful and crushing at the same time. She has a knack for digging deep and exposing the good and bad in human nature like few can. The writing gave me goosebumps, as always.

My sincere thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this phenomenal novel.

This was a heartbreaking, beautifully crafted novel of Munich and the horror known as Dachau.

Emilie and her neighbors have grown up as carefree kids, attending school, having a good childhood. But then war struck, and the differences between Jew and non-Jew became evident, and friends like Danner were forced to move elsewhere to avoid detainment. Their story is one of loss, survival, betrayal and hope...during a very dark time in world history.

This book will bring out all your emotions, so be prepared. But don't hesitate to read it, because we need to know and understand what happened then, so that it never happens again.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

This is a beautifully written, harrowing tale of love, loss and hope during WWII.

Danner and Emilie are the very definition of childhood sweethearts. He has grown up on the same street as her, and their mutual friends, Otto, Felix and Gertie. They realise that they love each other early in their teenage years, when they begin to see each other a little differently to how they see their other friends.

As the world around them begins to change, and not for the better, Danner realises that he cannot love Emilie, for he is a Jew, and he does not want to place her in Danger.

As time progresses and the situation for Jews becomes more and more dangerous, he begs her to marry their mutual friend Otto, and promise that she will be happy.

At first, it seems like the right thing to do. But when she is forced to give up her medical studies and move to Dachau with Otto who is involved in a research project she wonders if she's made a mistake.

It isn't until she begins work at Dachau herself that she wonders if she knows her husband at all.

The 'research' that he is involved with is human experimentation, and Danner is one of the inmates that she will be expected to participate experimenting on.

Emilie knows that Danner did nothing wrong? Dachau is a camp for criminals or so she thought? She quickly realises that the Nazi regime that she opposes regards simply being a Jew as a crime.

She is appalled and horrified, wanting to run away from her husband and Dachau and never return. But she knows that she must stay and work through her anger and fear if she is ever hope of saving Danner.

Simply wow! It's clear that Ms. Ryan did thorough research. The way she crafted the story makes the reader feel like these were the true lives of Emilie, Danner, Otto, Felix, and Gerty. These characters grew up together, sharing their childhood in Munich until Nazism dug its claws into German society. Emilie loves Danner but the fact that he is Jewish prevents their ability to be together. I really enjoyed how the story intertwined timelines, making it that much more realistic. Definitely hard to put down!

10 ⭐️’s
Once again, Ms Ryan has written an absolutely heart wrenching book. Every time I start one of her books, I know my heart will be hanging in tattered pieces and I’m left with a book hangover! This book will leave you an emotional mess. The sadness is palpable, as is the anger. The heartbreak is surreal. It is a story of betrayal of the worst kind. It is, once again, a reminder of the cruel world that once was and one that is only a generation away. Yet it is also a story of hope and love. True love that will bring you through the darkest of days. It’s a story of family and friends. This book is amazing. The characters so vivid and real. You will laugh, a little, and you will cry, a lot. But as always, it is definitely worth reading!!

I received an advanced copy of this book from Bookouture via NetGalley.

Emilie has been told she’s there to nurse evil men. But the first patient she sees is hauntingly familiar—her childhood sweetheart, Danner, in a tattered prisoner’s uniform. Her husband, Otto, assured her this was a camp for criminals. He should know, he’s the doctor. But Danner would never have broken the law.

As Emilie looks into Danner’s eyes, she's transported back to their happy childhood in Munich. The friendship they shared. The way her heart once felt like it beat only for him, before the Jewish laws were enforced and Danner pushed Emilie away to protect her, breaking her heart.

Desperate for answers, Emilie rushes to find Otto. She discovers him waiting with confidentiality papers for her to sign and realizes her husband has been lying. This isn’t a place to treat sick criminals but to murder the innocent. And Otto tells her if she doesn’t help, they'll both die.

This book offers a compelling premise but falls short in execution. The narrative is choppy, jumping back and forth in time, which disrupts the flow and makes it difficult to become fully absorbed in the story.

While both Danner and Emilie are well-developed characters, and their circumstances are heartbreaking, the non-linear timeline does not enhance the story and may have been more effective with a straightforward presentation. Despite the flaws, the emotional depth of the characters and the harrowing setting provides a poignant backdrop for a tale of love and survival.

Another amazing book by Shari J. Ryan! She never fails to raise awareness to different issues of the war with her books and there is so much to unpack from this book as well. While it could be called predictable in part, I feel like the predictability can be forgiven due to how well the story has been written.

The Nurse Behind the Gates by Shari J. Ryan is a WWII novel of hope in the darkest of times. Based between Dachau and Munich, the novel is told from dual POV's through time, giving an intimate insight into the lives, perspectives and thoughts of Emilie and Danner.

Childhood friends, torn aparat by faith and war through circumstances out of their control, Emilie and Danners love for each other staying alive and strong despite the terrible atrocities surrounding them and affecting them. Fate places them both in Dachau. Danner as a prisoner, Emilie as a nurse, both on either sides of the barbed wire

I have never read a novel by Shari J Ryan, but as a lover of historical fiction, I will certainly be reading more from this author in the future. Written with respect and empathy for the souls taken in the worst atrocity of the 20th century, a story of he humanity in the deepest of tragedies

Lest we forget

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author Shari J Ryan for this stunning ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own.

This story is from the point of view of someone who wound up working in the camp but was lied to about its purpose by her husband. It's quite frankly, a point of view I have never read before, and very well written at that.

Shari J Ryan is turning into a must-read author for me, and this book definitely didn't disappoint.

1942, Emilie and husband Otto live in Dachau. When Ottto tells his wife that he needs her help with his job, she realises he works in the concentration camp. The last person Emilie expects to see incarcerated is their childhood friend Danner. What follows is a multi timeline, multi point of view story examining the culture and history of the period.

Beautifully written, it is a wonderful story of love, friendship and hope. The author doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of the camp, and it's a very emotional book.

Danner, Emilie, Otto, Gertie, Felix - all good friends back in school days Munich. But as they grew, the country changed. Hitler declared war, Jews were ostracized and life changed as those friends had known it. When Otto and Emilie married, Otto took them to a new home near the camp at Dachau. It was 1942 and he was to work in the camp as the doctor while Emilie stayed at home. But soon Otto needed Emilie and her medical knowledge inside the camp as well. Her first day inside the barbed wire fences had her shaking with terror, but it was seeing a familiar face; hearing a familiar voice, which shattered her composure. Why was Danner at the camp for criminals? Why was he so thin and malnourished? Emilie didn't understand - but once she made Otto talk to her, she knew more than she wanted to know...

The Nurse Behind the Gates is another historical novel by Shari J. Ryan and unfortunately I didn't enjoy it as much as her previous books I've read. The time frames were choppy, jumping back and forth plus it was at 47% before Emilie even got behind the gates. Narrated by both Danner and Emilie, I enjoyed both characters although their circumstances were heartbreaking. Recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book and the small twists to the historical time period that took place. I found the writing was great and a slightly different persepective of the genre. Instead of looking at all the bad, and there is bad going on, the author focuses on love and how one person CAN make a difference. Great Read

The Nurse Behind the Gates⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Newly married Emilie and Otto move away from their hometown to Dachau, when Otto takes a job at the prison hospital there. Emilie has been studying as a nurse and she is asked to help him with data for a scientific research. However, that is not necessarily the case when she gets there, especially after seeing an old friend and her first love, Danner. Knowing that Danner would never do anything illegal to be a prisoner, she realizes that things are not what they seem. There are a lot of Jewish “prisoners” in this camp. After finding out the shocking truth of what is really happening behind the gates, she decides she will stop at nothing to fight for what she believes in.

Overall, I really liked this one. It was a Historical Fiction but followed as a romance with lots of information of WWII thrown in. It was told in the points of view from Emilie and Danner. The storyline followed their friendship/relationship from the past to present, to where they are now. While it was hard to read at times considering all the information and what all happened behind the gates, it was still really good and eye opening. The romance was that of an unselfish love and true love never ends. It was heartbreaking but also mending at the same time.

If you like romance but want to read more in depth books, I would suggest this one. If you like Historical Fiction, then add this one to your list. I always try to read a few a year and I’m glad this was one of them. This book publishes on May 20, 2024. Be on the lookout for it! Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my advanced readers copy. This is my honest and voluntary opinion.

If you’re curious about how things were for people in Europe during WWII but find nonfiction historical reading somewhat dry, this talented storyteller has you covered. She has several authentic, informative romances set during the Holocaust.

Newly married Otto and Emily Berger move to Dachau when Otto takes a job at the prison hospital there. Emily's training as a nurse makes her an asset, and she's enlisted to work with Otto recording the results of science experiments. But things are not at all as Emily was led to believe, a fact that really hits home when she discovers her dear childhood friend, Danner Alesky, is one of the political prisoners.

Told in present day with flashbacks to childhood, we see how a friendship between three people is affected by war. It's devastating, heartbreaking, and unsettling, but through the darkness, love and hope shine through. This riveting saga shows us that the worst in people brings out the best in others, and it's one you won’t want to miss.

I had a really hard time following along the storyline of this book. I think because there were multiple POV’s, but I felt like it was just confusing and I got lost in the first half. Overall, the book was good. If you’re into historical fictions, this is a good recommendation.