Half Hidden

by Emma Blair

Holly loses her fiance at Dunkirk and throws all her energy into nursing and hating the Germans who have taken away her beloved, and have invaded her home, Jersey. But she is forced to admit she respects and admires Dr Peter Schmidt and they begin a relationship. Then, however, typhoid strikes.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Romance

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 16, 1996

About the author

Iain Blair was born on 12 August 1942 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was an actor and writer, married with the also writer Jane Blanchard. Initially he wrote plays for theatre and television, but later began to write novels. He started out writing suspense novels as Iain Blair, but after being unsuccessful with this genre, switched to writing popular historical romance fiction sagas. But according to his Web site, Iain Blair's publishers decided he'd sell far more books simply by being published as a woman because is a women's fiction genre. "I was given absolutely no choice in the matter. They'd decided on a sex change and even the name. So that was that. Emma I became and Emma I've stayed." His true identity remained a secret until 1998 when his novel Flower of Scotland was nominated for the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association Awards, which required him to admit to being the author. He passed away on 3 July 2011 in Torquay, Devon, England.

Reviews

[Lorna · Rating 3 out of 5]

“"Half Hidden" by Emma Blair takes a different angle on the war story, at least in this reader's experience.
The island of Jersey has been occupied by the Germans, irrevocably effecting the lives of the Islanders. Holly Morgan, a nurse in the hospital has lost her fiance Martin within weeks of him going off to fight in Dunkirk.
However, Holly manages to find love again in the form of a doctor who works with her at the hospital. There's only one problem. Peter is a German. As well as battling between her feelings for Peter the man, and her revulsion for Peter the German, Holly does not want to be dubbed a reviled "Jerrybag" the derogative term for the local girls who fraternise with the enemy.
As well as the story of how these two enemies become lovers the book also deals with how occupied Jersey locals deal with rationing, curfews, and other restrictions. An intersting look at the War effect from my point of view. :)

[Ruth Soz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not stellar writing, but a good book to take on vacation. Who knew 'Emma Blair' was actually a man!

[Shivani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE IT...I LOVE IT...I LOVE IT....AWESOME STORY...N LOVED THE CHARACTERS...MOST ROMANTIC STORY...<3<3<3<3<3

[Susan Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes that was a delight to read! Read before. So that’s all my Emma Blair books read! What next

[P · Rating 4 out of 5]

A love story set in 1940s Jersey. I didn't know much about the German occupation of the Channel Islands during WWII or typhus for that matter. I do now. Rationing, banned items, and curfew were just the tip of the iceberg. I could sort of imagine what it was like to live in fear. Such terrible times.
There's not much going on in terms of the plot since it's a character-driven story. The subplots featuring the Spaniard and the kitten were a bit boring. Peter was adorable and while there were times I wanted to slap Holly (for being too irrational), I liked the book overall. It managed to grab my attention and keep it.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story about Jersey during the war and the relationship between a Jersey nurse and German doctor. Thoroughly enjoyable although the romantic in me would have preferred a different ending.

[Emma Edgecombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Or

[Karen Mynett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read. A real eye-opener into the life of islanders during the war.

[Arianne Marigomen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is worth reading, nice love story. Though the ending will make you very sad. Not a happy ending.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book until the last few chapters which I liked, but wasn't crazy about. The ending annoyed me because I wished so much it had been different (for the characters in the story, I mean). It made me shed a tear and want to scream! Recommended.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, love story between an English nurse and a German doctor set in Jersey during the invasion of the Germans.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first Emma Blair book I've read and I loved it! Adored the characters - really felt like I was part of it all. Such a lovely love story, I actually cried at the end though.

[Helen Chamberlain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good, kept me entertained. The ending was very sad though!

[Paula Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story line, didn't want it to end

[Daria Sel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even death failed to part them. Good book. Definitely Recommend it.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book.. unlike other war stories I have read, this took a very real angle for me. I never really thought before how the islanders would have felt within the walls of their own country and yet having to be ordered by Germans who invaded their beautiful Jersey.. it must have been really difficult.

Holly Morgan is a young nurse in her twenties struggling with the recent death of her fianceé, Martin who signs up for the Army and is killed instantly at Dunkirk. Holly is besides herself and when her homeland is taken by the Germans it really is the last straw. Nurse Morgan works in the local hospital. This is where her love affair with Doctor Peter Schmidt begins..

I feel so much for Holly as she is really risking it all by getting involved with Peter Schmidt - A German but you cannot pick who you fall in love with. Obviously she loves Peter and despite being a German underneath that he is so much more. Hes kind and caring and he is human. He might be a German but he doesn't agree with the war and the treatment of the Jews. But like so many Germans he had to follow his leader, mostly out of fear than agreement.

Holly quite clearly wrestles with her conscience about Peter, their relationship and the worries of being found to be a Jerrybag. She greatly cares about her friend, Elspeth's opinion and also Dan, her Father's.
----SPOILERS------

I would have liked Holly and Peter to recover from Typhoid and move forward with their lives..They both had so much to give.

But i loved this book. It touched me completely! 💖