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A Wartime Nurse
Theda hadn't given much thought to what would happen after she became a nurse. But by the time she finished her first year and was studying for her exams, she was coming up to twenty-one and there was a war on...
Against the odds, miner's daughter Theda Wearmouth succeeds in gaining a nursing place at Newcastle Hospital. By the time war breaks out, she is newly qualified and working in a children's ward, a role she adores. She also finds herself being courted by a young soldier. Only Theda's dreams of becoming Mrs. Alan Price are shattered when he is killed in action before he can make good on his promise to marry her. Broken-hearted, Theda finds herself reassigned to a special unit of the hospital dealing with German prisoners of war. Her duty is clear. But will she be able to cope with nursing the very men her fiancé died fighting?
Against the odds, miner's daughter Theda Wearmouth succeeds in gaining a nursing place at Newcastle Hospital. By the time war breaks out, she is newly qualified and working in a children's ward, a role she adores. She also finds herself being courted by a young soldier. Only Theda's dreams of becoming Mrs. Alan Price are shattered when he is killed in action before he can make good on his promise to marry her. Broken-hearted, Theda finds herself reassigned to a special unit of the hospital dealing with German prisoners of war. Her duty is clear. But will she be able to cope with nursing the very men her fiancé died fighting?
416 pages, Paperback
First published March 4, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 14, 2017
Another read from my mums bookshelf! Just for a change. Maggie Hope was born pretty locally to me, in County Durham. She actually worked as a nurse for many years, before giving up her career to raise her family and to write. Some of her other books include - THE MINER'S GIRL and AN ORPHAN'S SECRET. This is yet another gripping tale from the SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR. Hope has often been compared to another local author my mum can't get enough of - Catherine Cookson - and I can see why!
Part One takes places in 1936 and Part Two in 1950. Against the odds, miner's daughter, Theda Wearmouth, succeeds at gaining a place at Newcastle Hospital. By the time the bombs start to fall and the war has commenced, she is newly qualified and working in a children's ward, a role which she loves.
She also finds herself being courted by a young soldier. Only Theda's dreams of becoming Mrs. Alan Price are shattered when he is killed in action before he can make good on his promise to marry her. Broken-hearted she finds herself re-assigned to a special unit of the hospital dealing with German prisoners of war. Her duty is clear. But will she be able to cope with nursing the very men her fiancé died fighting...?
Part One takes places in 1936 and Part Two in 1950. Against the odds, miner's daughter, Theda Wearmouth, succeeds at gaining a place at Newcastle Hospital. By the time the bombs start to fall and the war has commenced, she is newly qualified and working in a children's ward, a role which she loves.
She also finds herself being courted by a young soldier. Only Theda's dreams of becoming Mrs. Alan Price are shattered when he is killed in action before he can make good on his promise to marry her. Broken-hearted she finds herself re-assigned to a special unit of the hospital dealing with German prisoners of war. Her duty is clear. But will she be able to cope with nursing the very men her fiancé died fighting...?
October 23, 2017
Enjoyed this book but wouldn't read it again.
January 16, 2017
Fantastic book,loved it n couldn't put it down. Thought it was going a bit too quick at the very start but it was good that it didn't dawdle over early years before it got to the main parts of Theda being a nurse.
I liked Theda though more in her younger days as I felt that the older she got even though she was determined to remain off men n all that she was still naive at times,making the same silly mistakes. But overall she was independent and determined so I liked that about her.
Theda was involved in some way or another with 4 men throughout the book and it really wasn't a forgone conclusion who she would end up with.
The silly mishaps and coincidences that kept happening between Theda and Ken were annoying,like how many times can a letter not get to her and how many times could they be in the same area and not know and how could she be working in the same hospital as Ken for over a year and not even know it but then unexpectedly decide to go for a holiday in the exact town he lived and just happen to be staying in a house right by his own house.
But overall it was a very enjoyable read.
I liked Theda though more in her younger days as I felt that the older she got even though she was determined to remain off men n all that she was still naive at times,making the same silly mistakes. But overall she was independent and determined so I liked that about her.
Theda was involved in some way or another with 4 men throughout the book and it really wasn't a forgone conclusion who she would end up with.
The silly mishaps and coincidences that kept happening between Theda and Ken were annoying,like how many times can a letter not get to her and how many times could they be in the same area and not know and how could she be working in the same hospital as Ken for over a year and not even know it but then unexpectedly decide to go for a holiday in the exact town he lived and just happen to be staying in a house right by his own house.
But overall it was a very enjoyable read.
June 2, 2018
Very average. Stupid stuff happened with no real explanation and there was some really unbelievable stuff too. The whole thing just seemed like trying too hard.
May 30, 2018
Another great read from Maggie hope.
September 1, 2011
A story based on Theda a young nurse during the war.
It dips in her family and home life and goes from Theda training to be a nurse under strict matron who ruled the hospital, until her career progressed as life changed due to circumstances .
a well written most enjoyable book which covers so much and so many emotions .
It dips in her family and home life and goes from Theda training to be a nurse under strict matron who ruled the hospital, until her career progressed as life changed due to circumstances .
a well written most enjoyable book which covers so much and so many emotions .
February 21, 2017
I read this on the kindle
I did enjoy this book it is set up in the North East of England with Theda who trains as a nurse in WW2 her boyfriend is killed then she has nurse German POWs
You have her story that near the end of the war it then jumps in part 2 to 1950
I would have liked an epilogue as I do feel that it ended a little short abrupt but the book was still a good one
I did enjoy this book it is set up in the North East of England with Theda who trains as a nurse in WW2 her boyfriend is killed then she has nurse German POWs
You have her story that near the end of the war it then jumps in part 2 to 1950
I would have liked an epilogue as I do feel that it ended a little short abrupt but the book was still a good one
July 17, 2018
Time taken to read - 1.5 days
Pages - 416
Publisher - Ebury Press
Source - The Works (I think)
Blurb from Goodreads
As bombs begin to fall, her strength will be tested...
A newly qualified nurse, Theda Wearmouth is delighted to gain a place at Newcastle Hospital. But the onset of war brings tragedy when her young soldier boyfriend is killed in action before he can make good on his promise to marry her.
Broken-hearted, Theda finds herself re-assigned to a special unit of the hospital dealing with German prisoners of war. Her duty is clear. But will she be able to cope with nursing the very men her fiancé died fighting...?
My Review
I went into this thinking it was going to be one of those books with a big focus on the nursing side, it really isn't. Don't get me wrong it does mention nursing, some of it takes part in a hospital and the main character does train to and become a nurse however the central focus is relationships.
Theda Wearmouth trains to be a nurse, she has a boyfriend who is off to war and dies before they can be married. Theda is distraught but focuses on her career and has no intention of looking for anyone else but you know the way life plays it's hand, when you aren't looking you find someone. As a result Theda's life changes completely and she tries to deal with the hand fate has given her whilst keeping true to her focus, her career. Set during world war two there are many issues, poverty, danger, death, romance, family, ideas on what a young woman should do and how she should behave. Nursing prisoners of war, hospital life during that time period and of course Theda's romantic interests.
I did like the book it just wasn't what I was expecting. It makes you think about life and times of that period in history, the choices and sacrifices women had to make. 3.5/5 for me this time, I think this was my first time reading this author, I would read her again.
Pages - 416
Publisher - Ebury Press
Source - The Works (I think)
Blurb from Goodreads
As bombs begin to fall, her strength will be tested...
A newly qualified nurse, Theda Wearmouth is delighted to gain a place at Newcastle Hospital. But the onset of war brings tragedy when her young soldier boyfriend is killed in action before he can make good on his promise to marry her.
Broken-hearted, Theda finds herself re-assigned to a special unit of the hospital dealing with German prisoners of war. Her duty is clear. But will she be able to cope with nursing the very men her fiancé died fighting...?
My Review
I went into this thinking it was going to be one of those books with a big focus on the nursing side, it really isn't. Don't get me wrong it does mention nursing, some of it takes part in a hospital and the main character does train to and become a nurse however the central focus is relationships.
Theda Wearmouth trains to be a nurse, she has a boyfriend who is off to war and dies before they can be married. Theda is distraught but focuses on her career and has no intention of looking for anyone else but you know the way life plays it's hand, when you aren't looking you find someone. As a result Theda's life changes completely and she tries to deal with the hand fate has given her whilst keeping true to her focus, her career. Set during world war two there are many issues, poverty, danger, death, romance, family, ideas on what a young woman should do and how she should behave. Nursing prisoners of war, hospital life during that time period and of course Theda's romantic interests.
I did like the book it just wasn't what I was expecting. It makes you think about life and times of that period in history, the choices and sacrifices women had to make. 3.5/5 for me this time, I think this was my first time reading this author, I would read her again.
March 17, 2020
Theda Wearmouth earns a place at Newcastle hospital but the onset of war brings it own challenges to her life not least the death of her boyfriend before they had a chance to marry.
following this tragedy she is moved from the childrens ward onto a special ward dealing with German prisoners of war which she is reluctant to do but has no choice.
can she cope with the challenges this nursing post brings or will it bring her more heartache
i thought this was a great book very realistic i could imagine that some nurses must have been put into this position in the wartime.
following this tragedy she is moved from the childrens ward onto a special ward dealing with German prisoners of war which she is reluctant to do but has no choice.
can she cope with the challenges this nursing post brings or will it bring her more heartache
i thought this was a great book very realistic i could imagine that some nurses must have been put into this position in the wartime.
March 18, 2018
I loved this book. it felt real and full of the life of ordinary people and heartache. the ending was a bit short but still a fantastic book.
July 25, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyable read, nice to share with my Nanny too
April 6, 2021
Lovely storyline. So much heartache during the war years
July 8, 2021
Theda is a newly qualified nurse at the beginning of WWII, working in the children’s ward of a local hospital. She falls for a young soldier, but soon tragedy strikes and she’s left broken hearted and nursing German POWs.
I picked this up because I thought she would be falling in love with one of the POWs (since you know, I have a series about that). She doesn’t, but it’s all good.
I liked Theda’s personality and her family dynamic. They weren’t perfect and their reactions to the situations thrown at them seemed realistic.
Theda was a very strong young lady and I really loved how her plot line (which happens often in these types of novels, but no spoilers!) was handled. She handled it very modernly, I should say.
I picked this up because I thought she would be falling in love with one of the POWs (since you know, I have a series about that). She doesn’t, but it’s all good.
I liked Theda’s personality and her family dynamic. They weren’t perfect and their reactions to the situations thrown at them seemed realistic.
Theda was a very strong young lady and I really loved how her plot line (which happens often in these types of novels, but no spoilers!) was handled. She handled it very modernly, I should say.
April 16, 2015
Surprisingly good and it brought back a lot of memories of my family post war and some of the activities that were important to our family. A couple of years ago a train I was travelling on stopped at Durham en route to Edinburgh and I was enchanted with the rolling countryside. The people are tough and resilient and also very stubborn so the author has drawn out her characters extremely well.
March 26, 2013
slow starting but enjoyed the story once I got into it x
April 11, 2013
Not bad. Kept me reading to the end. Lots of mistakes - even two on one page. Did anyone proof read this before printing?
July 23, 2014
an enjoyable light read about the ups and downs of a young nurse and her family during the war and beyond.
February 13, 2015
I enjoyed this story of life in wartime Britain.
A nice easy read.
A nice easy read.
February 15, 2015
I love war time stories
April 23, 2015
Very good read
Enjoyed reading had to get used to the English slang of the time but story was good and well written
Enjoyed reading had to get used to the English slang of the time but story was good and well written
May 11, 2011
Quite a good story
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews