This WWII book plays in the Netherlands and part of a series of three. Imogen is a good writer and if this is your first time reading a WWII book, I think you’ll enjoy it. Since the Netherlands is my home country and I’ve grown up hearing stories from my mom who lived through WWII, I struggled with some facts. I’d say the chances that they had tea with sugar or butter on their bread in 1944 are slim. Or Freddie wanting to travel to Haarlem late at night. There was a curfew. There is no way she could have done that (apart from the logistical challenges of the undertaking.) I am astounded at how easily Freddie divulges she works for the Resistance. Real names are freely exchanged. There was a lack of everything, but in the hospital they had lots of medicine to go around. Really? The main characters keep repeating that airmen will be sent to concentration camps. Hmm, were they aware of the existence of concentration camps and familiar with the existence of POW camps? The exchange of letters between England and the Netherlands. Was there mail service between these two countries? The occupying forces and England were at war… These issues, among others, make me wonder how historically accurate the book is.

I do appreciate the author’s attempt to make it truly Dutch. The names are very Dutch, a real pleasure to read! Greeting one another with three kisses is indeed something that the Dutch do, but that didn’t become a widespread custom until the late 1980s. The tulip bulbs that the people in the western part of the Netherlands had to eat during the winter of 1944 is true and it’s very nice to see it have a place in the book. Swedish white bread is still mentioned by the very old in the Netherlands. This was reenacted somewhere in the early 80s and I was given a slice. Large groups of airmen are evacuated through the Biesbosch. I love that the author includes this.

The characters were o.k., I didn’t fall in love with them. I actually found Freddie to be an individual who made rash decisions and took risks that weren’t necessary. The story is enjoyable, but one should not expect an accurate historical setting.

Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC. All opinions are my own. I was not required to leave a positive review.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed reading this book.

The story is about how the people lived when the Nazi’s occupied the Netherlands.

Imogen’s writing gave you an insight to the experience of these citizens, when they had to decide whether to put up with the daily happenings or join the resistance.

Will who is a flight Lieutenant is under the care of Freddie at St. Elizabeth Hospital based in Arnhem. He was hurt when he was following through orders he was given for Operation Garden.

She falls in love with him, but then he’s moved to another place and she doesn’t know where. Freddie decides to do whatever it takes in order to find him.

The story was well written, well researched and a page turner.

I highly recommend this book.

I love historical fiction books set around a medical perspective.The Wartime Nurse was the latest I read and it did not disappoint.

Fascinating story about the bravery of two sisters Trudi & Freddie Oversteegan. Frida changed her name to Freddie in the belief that the resistance would be more likely to allow her to work alongside them, as there were so few women involved at this time. Freddie cycled all over delivering messages and acting as a decoy for other important operations.
It is one such operation that fails which makes Freddie decide she should move on for a while. Her friend from school Inge suggests becoming a nurse. So after moving to Arnhem Freddie meets Will who is places in her care after his RAF plane crashes. Freddie starts to feel an attraction to her patient, will it last or will they be parted?

The story about the resistance was fascinating, how they managed to work in plain sight. The bit about German soldiers looting barns and fields was disgusting, talk about taking the food from your mouth. My favourite character was Freddie, least favourite was the looters.

This is a story of survival through the toughest of times.

The Dutch people, like many others, had to either put up with the Nazis, or learn how to fight and become part of the Resistance.

A tale of true courage, that made me stop and think about how lucky we are now.

The characters were strong, and the story was heartbreaking, yet important to read.

A moving book, with many interesting facts that took me by surprise. One such fact, was that people were having to eat tulip bulbs due to the famine.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I never gave much thought about the Dutch during WWII, and this is likely a result of little-known heroes like our heroine in this novel. Reading about courageous people, especially women, in times of stress and extreme duress is such an emotional read. Additionally, there's an underlying romance here that's not that uncommon for the time. Freddie is a nurse and nearly-instantaneously falls in love with Will. But as is typical for war, they are torn apart. Whether they will find each other again is a part of the story, but the bigger part of the story is Freddie's bravery and what she's willing to do to subvert the invading Germans. Well written and moves quickly.

Brought to life the characters as well as the time period of 1944, Nazi-occupied Holland, and showed the courage and strength of nurses who took care of the soldiers, as well as let us learn about their services and Sacrifices.

I really loked the characters, their strength and resilience. How far they were willing to go.to.save other people. I never get tired of.reading about strong community and the people in it. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

To say I wanted more would be an understatement. This was a delicious page turner right from the start. Everytime I had to put it down, it was all I could think about. I did end up finishing way past my bedtime, just so I would be able to sleep. Based on a true story.

This is a story set in Holland during WWII. It shows the courage of the citizens, the hardships and their determination to survive. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

I can always count on author Imogen Matthews to highlight the courage and determination of ordinary Dutch citizens as they fought against the occupying Germans. I know so little of the Netherlands' wartime experience and Matthews’ compelling stories inform me and leave me wanting to learn more. I haven’t read the first two books in this series but I immediately put them on my reading list. The trilogy features three young women who became remarkable Dutch resistance fighters.

Nineteen-year-old Nurse Freddie Oversteegen meets 21-year-old Flight Lieutenant Will Cooper when he’s brought to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Arnhem and put under her care. The RAF officer was carrying out orders for Operation Market Garden when he was injured. It’s love at first sight and when he’s quickly moved and she doesn’t know where he’s gone, her resolve is strengthened and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to be reunited.

I found myself down a Google rabbit hole searching Dolle Dinsdag, onderduikers, De Vliegende Hollander, Arbeitsdienst and Operation Market Garden. I think I spent an hour reading more about the Oversteegen teenagers - what courageous girls!

This fantastic novel, inspired by a true story, is one historical fiction lovers will want to read!

I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.