Ella Elkington wakes up in hospital with minor physical injuries but no memory. She cannot even remember her own name.
The doctor treating her tells her that she had a car accident and has been identified by a letter found in a handbag. Asking to see the letter, hoping to find out about herself, she learns the letter is now missing.
When the hospital tracks down her brother, he visits her, and Ella has glimmers of childhood memories.
After she is released from hospital, with the help of diaries and letters, and her long-time friend Sheila, Ella begins to piece together her past. She learns she was a nurse during the war, who was sent to work in a mobile hospital in France after the D-Day landings.
But, haunted by nightmares, Ella struggles to understand how she ended up in the accident.
What happened to the missing letter?
And who is the young man who haunts her dreams?
In order to understand who she is, Ella must face a terrible truth in order to make peace with the past and find a way to live again…
At first I thought the narrative was rather slow and repetitive. I initially dislike Ella’s character, thinking her a bit weak and insipid. However, as the plot turns to Ella’s experience of the Second World War, I thought the story really developed and became far more interesting.
When Ella wakes up in a hospital after a tragic accident, she has no recollection of who she is, how she got there and what her life is like. Initially distrusting the doctors and her apparent brother, Ella is frustrated by her invalid status and lack of comprehension about her life. Suddenly, everything she has ever known has been wiped from her memory and she isn’t even able to remember her childhood. After finally being discharged from the hospital but accompanied by a recognisable friend, it is at home that Ella’s memory truly starts to return. Coupled with family letters and her journals, readers gradually learn what sort of person Ella was like and her role as a nurse in the war.
Whilst the present-day narrative shows Ella growing in person and becoming more confident, reconnecting with friends and making new ones, I thought her war story was most interesting. Bourne describes aspects of the war that I had not considered before; in other words, coping mechanisms that the doctors and nurses turned to in order to keep going through such draining times. Although the war hospitals are not graphically described, nor Ella’s experience of the war camps, I thought Bourne’s portrayal was incredibly vivid and it really added to my understanding of the war. This is one of the reasons why I enjoyed reading novels set at this time because it adds a fictional, extra perspective of this period that is usually based on fact.
Some parts of the narrative I predicted quite early on, but I still enjoyed watching the story develop. Ella’s character grows in strength, reflecting her increasing memories and confidence about who she is as a person. I did not care too much for her present-day friendships but liked seeing how they connected to her past. I could not imagine how Ella’s friends were able to behave to ensure that Ella is able to remember who she was gradually, but also not overwhelming her with past accounts. It’s a scenario that I think many of us would despise.
All in all, I became pleasantly surprised by how this narrative developed. I thought Bourne’s writing was detailed and interesting. I enjoyed reading about nurses and their experience of the war, marvelling how much healthcare has changed in a century. I think this is a fresh take on a war story, with a little bit of romance thrown in there too.
With thanks to Bloodhound books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Sarah Bourne has a gift for stirring emotions. I found this story compelling, informative and beautifully written. The dual timeline added interest as I followed Ella's recovery, her coming to terms with the horrors of war and moving on to a new life. A poignant story that stays with you long after the last page.
Oh dear another self published book that really needs a good commercial editor to bring it into some sort of shape.There was far too much tell not show, the men really didn't seem to have much character, each incident seemed separated and not part of the flow, things didn't really flow form each other
it felt well researched but a little preachy with the knowledge gained. Sorry but many of us do know lots of this stuff already, and if you want an object lesson on including history but not preaching see The Outlander series
A pity becuase the start of the book was very promising but it just drizzled away and by the end I din't really care. Perhaps too many themes in the book, mystery, love, war damage, post war recovery. Was it really such a shock that Ella was an addict or that she tried to end her life? These are pretty every day to me, the real shick might be if she had taken something into her own hands in Belsen.
Thank you Sarah Bourne for the opportunity to win a signed copy of this historical thriller. Ella wakes up in hospital after a car accident with no memory of her past. With the help of her friend and her diary she pieces together her traumatic past and finds true love. Not my usual genre but I loved this emotional page turner.
A thoroughly easy to read book beautifully written to take you on a journey of discovery as Ella, thanks to diaries she has kept, gradually overcomes her total memory loss following a car accident and remembers her role as a front line nurse during WW2. Key within it is how she managed the terrible conditions and sights that she had to deal with including at the very end. I imagine her ways of dealing with how she felt were not unusual then - maybe still not?
The book manages to keep a light tone whilst dealing with very serious issues all set against a backdrop of WW2, however I did wonder at their ability to not only source but also drink what seemed to be fairly large and regular amounts of alcohol. 30 year old single malt was mentioned at some point! That, alongside gifts from Sheila’s farmer friend kept them well fed and watered despite rationing…
Overall after reading this book I’m struck that it has shown both how wonderful and terrible people can be. Ella had wonderful family and friends to support her after she gave her all supporting others.
My book came with no extra information but I would have liked to known more about how the author researched for writing including who she spoke to to make sure she was as accurate as possible about WW2 front line nursing. I will now seek out other Sarah Bourne books.
This hand on heart has to be the best book that I have read in years. I did really enjoy Sarah's previous book but this just is beautiful, heartwarming, so well researched. What an amazing author and talent.
The way the book changes time periods and moves back and forth and then elaborates and concludes with the letter that started the whole thing off.
I was very sceptical when I had the chance to review this book as it is not my normal type of book but I am so glad I did. I have just started it today and finished it - housework has gone by the wayside. I just had to know more.
I was given an advance copy by Bloodhound books but the review is entirely my own.
WOW, what can I say, another excellent book by Sarah which had me totally captivated from the beginning.
It made me laugh, smile and cry. Great characters especially Ella and her friend Sheila.
This is my second book by Sarah and she certainly doesn’t disappoint. She has a way of engaging you into the story that helps you to visualise the characters and settings.
Beautifully written and highly recommended.
I very much look forward to reading more books by Sarah.
Brilliant and I would definitely recommend this to you all x
Any fans of romance and war will absolutely love this book!!
From the moment Ella opens her eyes at the start of this book from her accident you are whisked through the emotions of a nurse at war and the horrors through her eyes as she experiences them all over again...
From past to present this book keeps you hanging on and wanting more
A book club choice. First two chapters I loved and was thinking this was going to be a 5 star book but it gradually lost my interest to the point that I wasn't going to finish it at page 282. I did but gained little by doing so. It seems very over-written and could be a third shorter and yet have far greater impact. Nothing came as much of a surprise and I very much struggled to find any rapport with Ella who seemed spoilt, hypocritical and at times even smug. I grew up with aunties who had been war-time nurses and some of the mis-placed pride bordering on arrogance did chime with me. However the strapline promises "moving and emotional" - it struck me as neither. The final couple of chapters were hardly a revelation given we had been spoon fed the likelihood right from the beginning. This was not my style of novel. The early promise of the memory loss and the weird clinic (which never sent in a bill despite many personal home visits to Ella by an eminent doctor) was never fully realised - what we were treated to was a recovery prompted by diaries which meant memories conveniently came back in chronological order - as if! One or two of the ancillary characters showed promise - I would have liked to get to know the farmer better and David could have had greater dimension but Ms Bourne needed a firm editor to help take her idea and turn it into a cracking novel. I suspect kindly friends have been supportive but not sufficiently critical. Much of the middle of the book could be axed completely and more could be intimated rather than spelt out. For example someone says "I have had it up to here" (an expression we all understand, surely?) but Ms Bourne adds that the speaker pointed at her forehead....this is what I mean by over-written. It is littered with such examples. When Ella can't believe in God because of the war atrocities but then wants to marry in a church she was shown to be the vacuous protagonist I had already begun to lose interest in. I was expecting a very cleverly crafted spy novel - woman with German father pressed into service for both allies and enemy, fearing as her memories returned that she had betrayed something and that maybe the doctor and Andrew knew more than they were letting on... The Goodreads description for one star is accurate (I did not like it) but the novel does have some elements to appreciate so I serve up two stars and hope the next book club offering pleases me more.
Ella comes out of a coma after a car accident with no memory, and her doctors are reluctant to tell her anything, preferring her memory to come back naturally. The book then takes us on a journey through Ella’s life, and her career as a nurse in WW2. Slowly revealed are the twists and turns of her love life, the traumas she experienced as a nurse first in London and then at the front, as she gradually recovers her memory and has to confront her past – both the good and bad. For readers who enjoy WW2 detail and learning more of little known aspects of women’s sufferings, this is a great historical insight into that time taken through the lens of a woman who wakes up one day not knowing there had even been a war. Clues are peppered along the way that not everything in Ella’s war was straightforward, and that she was embroiled in things that may be better left undiscovered. As the past finds its place in the present, the secrets in her life about who she really was are gradually revealed. The last section of the book becomes particularly harrowing. Sarah Bourne’s research is meticulous and she covers a lot of ground, introducing many little known fascinating historical facts and cleverly weaving them into the story of Ella’s life. Her writing style is fluid and easy-to-read and her characters well drawn. Ella is a complex mix who engages with her bravery, single-mindedness and strong personality. This is a book lovers of wartime novels will enjoy.
Ella's War for me was a slow burn that, from the very start, made me want to delve deeper into the lost memories of this war nurse. Set in 1947, the author captures the feel amongst every-day people of post-war Britain. As a reader I felt I was with the mElla's War: a moving an emotional dramaain character, Ella, the whole time. It is not a technically hard book to read and flows easily. However the technique used by the author in achieving this shows a really high level of skills. As the book goes along, the memories begin to come back and before I knew it, I couldn't put the novel down. The final quarter of the book was brilliant, a realy page turner, and I take my hat off to the author who has obviously researched extensively to achieve the attention to detail in terms of historical accuracy but also the grittiness of war nursing.
I enjoyed this book. This is a new author for me which I enjoyed being pulled into the story from the beginning. This is a well written story that has characters that not only made the story realistic but also brought the story to life. They are connectable and made the story fast paced and engaging. This is a story about Ella who was in a car accident only to lose her memory. The doctor tells her about a letter that was found which was used to identify her. Now as she goes through the letters she finds out more about this accident and tries to figure out why it happened. She is a great character that truly made the story for me as well as being strong and determined. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
Ella’s War by Sarah Bourne, set just after the end of WWII, begins with Ella waking in hospital with amnesia following a car accident. As she recovers physically, her memory slowly returns. But her mind seems determined to prevent a complete recall, suggesting she has suffered emotional trauma – not entirely surprising as she was a nurse at the front. With help from her family and friends, Ella gradually reclaims her past as she learns to live in the present. This is an engaging read with a compelling protagonist. Ella's family and friends fill out an interesting cast. Note, there are a few harrowing scenes about working in a hospital during the war.
A powerful story about what it must of been like during the 2nd World War for the nurse and doctor during and after the war at home and in the thick of the action intense most of the time. With some lighter moments. Remember hearing similar stories from my parents and relatives and neighbours that went through the war years. I was to young at the time relace the hardship and sacrifice there generateshion went through. Now 60 years later I can understand. All that they did before I was born and hold there memories with more pride.
Once I started this book I could not put it down until I got to the last page. I thought I knew all about WW11 but it made me realise that I didn’t and this book described, in detail, the horrors that ordinary people went through. A Very emotional story, told so well that I will keep and read again. Thoroughly recommended
As a fan of WW2 historical fiction, I found Emma's story very interesting. I've read many books about the horrors of this war. This story really deals with what war nurses suffered, physically and mentally. Today we hear a lot about PTSD among returning soldiers. I don't think it is new. This well written novel provides a look at reality.
Just wiping the tears from my eyes after reading this moving book. I was in suspense right from the beginning, and the book constantly drew me in, invested so much in the main character’s story. Sarah Bourne is an incredible writer- her other recent novel ‘The Train’ is also worth reading. Highly recommend !
Interesting story of prisoners of war (German) working in and around the Delmarva peninsula on farms & other nearby areas - one thing I never had heard of. Good characters, true depictions of the hardship of war here, in American, far from the fighting but with many devastating effects on everyday life. Had hoped for a different ending. See what you think.
For some reason I have always been drawn to stories about amnesia. I thought this one was quite good. Fine characterizations (especially the protagonist) and historical reconstruction of the war years. I didn't know this author before, but liked this novel well enough to look for more of his writing.
Voyage of remembrance of times better forgotten. Amnesia is a powerful thing, it robs one of the past, and sometimes the future. One woman’s awakening is the story.
Ella's War was a fantastic read that started with an exciting & interesting story line which developed into 2 stories simultaneously that dovetailed nicely together at the end with a little twist.
A different read for me but a very enjoyable one. A foray into the nursing world pre WWII and the QA nurses during the war. Beautifully written and evokes clear pictures and emotions of the horrors of wars. Crossing genres; historical, family drama, romance and psychological suspense, it’s a wonderful read.
Briefly, a woman wakes up in hospital with amnesia and minor injuries. The doctor explains that she was in a car accident and her memory should return gradually. Her friend Sheila comes to stay with her and eventually gives her three journals Ella wrote, before and during WWII. As her memories return she recalls her nursing training at Guy’s and her husband, who was killed during the war, but she wants to move on. Her wartime memories are still hidden in her mind. She is still having terrifying nightmares about a young man. Who is he? And why is he haunting her dreams? When she meets David she has hopes for the future, but she needs to know her past first…
Ella is a fascinating character. She has been through hell and back, as did many during war times, but she is resilient and strong. She had to be. Her strength as she tries to recall her memories is both heartwarming and at times heartbreaking. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a WWII historical drama, or in fact anyone like me who thinks they should read something different. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Imagine, waking up and not knowing who you are; and no-one really wants to tell you anything as they want you to rebuild your memories in your own time, mainly under the doctor’s orders.
This is Ella’s new life. When she wakes, all that she is told is that she was in an accident.
Those close to her, her brother Andrew and mainly her best friend Sheila are supporting her and helping her to rebuild her life.
Ella learns that she was a nurse in the war, and that she was married but that her husband died in the war.
What else will Ella discover when she reads the three journals that Sheila gave her?
Is Ella suppressing some of her memories due to some of the awful things she saw?
This is a story that takes you back to a time that was so hard for so many, for so many reasons.
It is hard not to get lost in the author's words. This had me smiling and shedding a tear or two.
It is a beautifully written book, and from the first page completely draws you into Ella’s story.
This is my first book by this author and I will definitely be looking forward to reading more.
This is a wonderful story about a woman name Elenora Elkington she in the hospital with her memory gone, with total loss of memory, Ella have Amnesia. She couldn't remember what her own name is called. How she in up injury because of a car accident, she was on a lonely road, someone find her, and call for help. Ella awoken up in the hospital, she had a letter in her purse , that the only way they know her name, that the nurses, and doctor found out her name from that letter. Letter to know for a fact if that her identity , and also to contact her family or anyone. There is more to the story of Elenora or Ella. Ella is dealing with more memory with the time of World War II. I do not want to give to much of the storyline away, but it great story to find out what happen, Ella. Ella is dealing with memories that come back to Ella in pieces, and her brother and his family is her supporting her in her amnesia state. The situations for Elenora is really interesting as the pages go on.
This is a story of a woman name Ella or Elenora Elkington, she the main character in this story of Ella War by Sarah Bourne, Ella is a woman who have amnesia she loss total memory , she can't even remember her name. To find out her name is the doctor and nurse find her belongs in a purse with a letter with her name address to her brother. Ella is a strong caring woman, she deal with issues, the World War II, the effect of the war and what she sees. This is a Ella story in Ella's War. This story is coming out June 28, 2021. I enjoyed the book the mystery to find out what happen? Will Ella get her memory back? Do she have a husband or someone as a partner? What happen to Ella in the car accident? Where is the letter, why did it disappear and who have it? All the question will be answer in this novel , and more.