There’s a storm headed for the Channel Islands and it’s not just the weather! 

The German Nurse, by MJ Hollows, is a historical fiction novel of WWII to be published November 18, 2020. 

What if you woke up one morning and discovered that the beloved Channel Island you call home would soon be taken over by a powerful enemy?  Jack Godwin, an officer in the Guernsey police station, learns that Churchill has ordered the withdrawal of all military forces on the island. Saddened that his island doesn’t rank as worthy of resources needed to defend itself, Jack channels his energy into his job and into defending his family. Once the island is occupied by German forces, he finds himself caught in a purgatory-like reality as he is caught between being a proud Guernesiais, a policeman and essentially working for the German authorities. In his own words, he becomes a lackey for the Germans. You’ll follow Jack and Johanna through the five years of the German occupation of Guernsey and understand what it was like to live on an occupied island during World War Two. 

I love to learn while I read and it was immediately obvious that Hollows had done his research. I had never considered such things as the distribution of Reichsmarks in exchange for Sterling pounds as currency, the fact that the occupying forces could commandeer vehicles and family homes leaving people homeless, change the language of signage in towns, and have segregated seating for native and German audiences in cinemas to prevent unrest. I was introduced to the concept of carrot tea and the secret knock of the resistance. What surprised me the most was Hollows informing his readers that not all members of the occupying force were happy to be there; they’d have rather been home living an uninterrupted life. And why not? I hadn’t thought about it previously. While I was excited to be introduced to a different setting during WWII, I felt let down with the lack of warmth and heart that I felt should be in a novel claiming romance. Like most of Jack’s actions, his relationship with Johanna just felt mechanical. I wasn’t convinced of love. It was almost as if the characters in the novel lacked depth. I also felt deceived as I was expecting a book about a nurse during WWII and instead was offered a book about a police officer during the same time period. That being said, I’ve never read a novel with more attention to olfactory detail. I was amazed at the descriptions about the aftereffects of the bombing, the bitumen used in making the resistance symbol, and the stench on the beach. Rarely does an author tune into all senses in their writing. The premise of this novel was amazing, and it had so much potential. 

Thank you to MJ Hollows, Netgalley and HQ Digital UK for the gift of this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.