An RNA Romantic Novel of the Year Award nominee and an Amazon Charts bestseller.
London, 1944. Two young nurses meet at a train station with a common purpose: to join the war effort. Scarlet longs for the chance to find her missing fiancé, Thomas, and to prove to her family—and to herself—that she’s stronger than everybody thinks. Nursing is in Ellie’s blood, but her humble background is vastly … background is vastly different from Scarlet’s privileged upbringing. Though Ellie puts on a brave face, she’s just as nervous as Scarlet about what awaits them in France.
In Normandy, the two friends soon encounter the seemingly unflappable Lucy. Scarlet and Ellie are in awe of her courage and competence, but the experienced nurse is well aware of the dangers of the job they’ve chosen—and even she is terrified they won’t make it home alive.
Pushed to their limits by the brutality of a world at war, Scarlet, Ellie and Lucy will need to rely on each other—and the power of their friendship—to survive.
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This lovely book has a London connection and Scarlet, Ellie and Lucy, the three main characters, are strong young women, brave in the face of danger and extremely resourceful. My kind of gals! I write London sagas and felt a great affinity with their emotions and surroundings. Soraya M. Lane writes like a dream. I hope to read more of her novels
I really enjoyed this book! I enjoy books that are set during World War II. And Soraya Lane writes her stories with wonderful characters. I enjoyed the women and their relationships with each other. I enjoyed how their struggles throughout their time in the service and what they experienced were depicted. It wasn’t an easy time for the women but their friendships helped them. There was some romance along the way and also some surprises and twists to the story.
A great read by a talented author – a story that will stay with you long after you’ve closed the book.
Two British nurses volunteer to work at a battlefield hospital during World War 2. Scarlet is seeking information about her soldier fiance since his correspondence has ceased. Ellie has prior experience as a nurse and feels that she can contribute immediately to the war effort. Both women are apprehensive about the risks involved but they are determined to make a difference. Their paths converge while on a train headed to their assignment and a lifelong friendship is formed.
In France they meet Lucy, an experienced nurse who is charge of operations. At first Lucy shows no interest in developing friendships but eventually she takes the women under her wing. While stationed in Normandy, the fighting escalates and they encounter tireless amounts of soldiers. The casualties are horrific and the working conditions are poor. Scared that they might never make it home, they remain courageous, and rely on one another for support.
This story has a nice mix of historical fiction and romance. It shows how deep bonds can develop during the worst of times. I enjoyed this novel by Soraya M. Lane.
Such an interesting perspective to experience war through these three young nurses. Their courage and friendship pull them through the grueling years. Soraya Lane’s writing sweeps you away with their pain and triumphs.
This book was slllooowww! I enjoyed the story and the characters, but the pace of the book was just too slow for me. I love novels featuring female protagonists set during WWII, and the 3 ladies at the center of this book are interesting and likable. The story is a bit grittier and more realistic than other books in the same genre, really detailing the horrors WWII nurses faced both at the front and once they returned home.
Incredible story of war and suffering, nursing and doctoring, friendships and romance! I loved the narrator! Her British sounding voice was perfect for the majority of characters who were from London. She also did Irish, French, and a couple of American soldiers! She did well transferring from men to woman, as well as the conversations where several people spoke in succession!
The story was enthralling, heartbreaking, romantic, and real! I’m looking forward to book 3!
The author weaved this tale with great creativity, insight, and enthralling nuances. When I found myself feeling cold and wet while nurses attended soldiers in tents in Normandy, looking this way and that as characters “saw” what they saw, grinning when Jack cracked his jokes, I knew I was hooked. If you have military experiences as a woman or not, you are sure to enjoy this book experience.
The women who were nurses in WW2 in France had awful working conditions. I enjoyed hearing about that portion of the war and what their life was like.
Wonderful story of female friendship and tribute to those who served and cared for the wounded.
Three women in wartime. This story of three British women who meet as nurses and are posted to Normandy in mid June 1944 is engrossing on several levels. Women were (and are) struggling with the roles society and family imposed. Should they stay home and roll bandages for Red Cross and knit stockings for our fighting men? Or leave the safety of home and be a part of the war effort?
The stories, historically accurate, of the men and women working together at the front in France are fascinating. There is romance in this wartime story, of course. But what is interesting is how the women learn to set class lines and societal expectations aside to find themselves and their loves. The war tests them mightily.
I really enjoyed this book! It is real and entertaining and perfect for historical fiction fans. Lately, I’ve been reading wartime fiction; this is one of the best. Read this author’s work! I think you’ll find yourself hooked!
Wives of War by Soraya M. Lane is part of a three-book collection that takes readers back to the World War II era. It is 1944 and Scarlet Alexander has joined Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Nursing Service (QA nurses). Scarlet is waiting for the train (and a little nervous) and is happy when Ellie O’Sullivan introduces herself. The pair are reporting for duty and final field training. Scarlet comes from a privileged background and is joining against her families wishes. She has not heard from her fiancé, Thomas is thirteen weeks and is worried about him. Scarlet feels nursing will allow her to look for Thomas. She knows he is still alive. Ellie has three brothers off fighting and she wishes to do her bit for the war effort. Ellie meets Dr. Spencer Black while training for the front and they are attracted to each other. Scarlet meets a soldier named James who makes her forget about her missing fiancé. Ellie and Scarlet are soon sent to France where are they inundated with injured soldiers. The unflappable Lucy Anderson is assigned to their unit as a surgical nurse. Lucy wants to enroll in medical school after the war. Rough conditions, little food and long hours are in store for these nurses. Their friendship will help them endure these difficult conditions along with hope and love.
I thought Wives of War was easy to read and had a good pace (in most sections). However, Wives of War is a book for readers who enjoy romance novels. Love is in the air for Lucy, Scarlet and Ellie and the war takes a backseat for the majority of the novel. The war in France plays out in the background while these ladies flirt (for the most part). I found the dialogue to be very American. It did not match up with the characters. Scarlet is upper-class British and should speak differently from Irish Ellie. There are a couple of British phrases tossed in here and there but they do not make the novel any more British. I also felt it was lacking in historical accuracy. I am rating Wives of War 3 out of 5 stars. I found Wives of War to be expected (predictable) and a repetition of basic details (how many times were we told Scarlet loved Thomas). I thought the characters were lacking and flat. They were not fleshed out and developed. Friendship blossoms instantly between the ladies (they just met), and then they fall in love just as quickly (Instant connection). I thought it was unrealistic (even for fiction). I wanted a story with more depth (about nurses working in Europe, their patients, etc.) with less focus on women finding husbands in the middle of a battle field. I wish the publisher had written the blurb differently (it is listed as historical fiction). If I had known it was a romance novel, I would have passed. My mother also read this novel and came away with the same impressions (which is rare for the two of us).