What do you think?
Rate this book
The Sea Nurses
The young nurse ran across the wooden deck, her feet skidding. She spotted an injured young man clinging to the ship’s rail, his eyes wide with terror. She could see the water rushing up to meet them. ‘We need to jump!’ she screamed. In that moment, a wave washed over them. She lunged forward to grab his hand, but she was a second too slow. Somewhere, deep inside the vessel, came a loud crack. The hospital ship was breaking apart…
1914. Evie Munro is a Scottish fisher girl, working the herring season from Wick to Great Yarmouth. For Evie, every day is the same – gutting fish at the docks, shoulder-to-shoulder with her friends, followed by fresh bread, a warm whiskey toddy and an early night. But when Germany declares war on Britain, everything changes.
As her village begins to empty of young men, Evie’s life is marked by a heartbreaking tragedy at home. Her happiness destroyed, she vows to join the war effort as an army nurse, caring for wounded soldiers on the imposing hospital ship Britannic.
But as the war rages on and the ship comes under direct fire, Evie’s courage is put to the ultimate test. Can Evie and the nurses of the HMHS Britannic save the day and heal the patients in their care? Or will her life become one more casualty in Britain’s heroic fight for freedom?
A heartbreaking wartime saga – guaranteed to have you grabbing for the tissues! Perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries, Diney Costeloe and Nancy Revell.
1914. Evie Munro is a Scottish fisher girl, working the herring season from Wick to Great Yarmouth. For Evie, every day is the same – gutting fish at the docks, shoulder-to-shoulder with her friends, followed by fresh bread, a warm whiskey toddy and an early night. But when Germany declares war on Britain, everything changes.
As her village begins to empty of young men, Evie’s life is marked by a heartbreaking tragedy at home. Her happiness destroyed, she vows to join the war effort as an army nurse, caring for wounded soldiers on the imposing hospital ship Britannic.
But as the war rages on and the ship comes under direct fire, Evie’s courage is put to the ultimate test. Can Evie and the nurses of the HMHS Britannic save the day and heal the patients in their care? Or will her life become one more casualty in Britain’s heroic fight for freedom?
A heartbreaking wartime saga – guaranteed to have you grabbing for the tissues! Perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries, Diney Costeloe and Nancy Revell.
282 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2022
603 people are currently reading
238 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
June 9, 2022
“Through the dark days of the war, they must stay strong”
I have to admit that I can’t remember the last time I read a WWI book, so it took a while to adjust to the narrative and dialogue surrounding the alternative style of combat, to that waged in subsequent warfare stories, which are my more usual reading genres. However, regardless of the time or place war has always been a great leveller and class has no place within its ranks. Differences need to be put aside and people have to be ready to stand shoulder to shoulder for the common good and with the singular aim of defeating the enemy and watching the back of your fellow men and women. And so are born tales such as this, of strong and enduring friendships, forged against all the odds, out of necessity and in the face of tremendous adversity.
…
Whilst not upper class by any stretch of the imagination, a well educated Iris, is an assistant medic and senior stewardess, in the first class section of a trans Atlantic cruise liner. Evie, who is destined to cross paths with Iris, comes from more humble beginnings and with a group of other women, travels down from Scotland to Great Yarmouth each year, for the herring season, where she guts and packs the catch, fresh on the quayside. The one thing the girls have in common, is that they are orphans of a similar age and they have also both recently discovered a first time romantic interest, although the hardships of life will end one relationship and the trials of war the other. Iris is as quiet and reserved, as Evie is garrulous and enthusiastic. Iris has had the good fortune to be taken under the wing of one of her wealthy first class clients, whilst Evie has the company of good friends and relatives to turn to in her hour of need.
With the outbreak of war, all ships are requisitioned by the government, with many being converted to hospital ships and it is an inherent fascination with the sea, which finds Iris and Evie and some of Evie’s fellow herring packers, enlisting as nurses. Iris undoubtedly has the most relevant qualifications, so she finds herself trying to manage a team of four enthusiastic girls, although she discovers all too soon, that Evie’s renowned expertise with the gutting knife, is easily re-purposed to make her equally adept with a surgical scalpel and her help becomes invaluable, as does that of all their fellow nursing recruits.
Battle fatigue from numerous Mediterranean rescue missions, is made even more unutterably and unbearably sad by the sinking of The Britannic, with Iris and a few of her fellow survivors witness to the terrible deaths of many of the unfortunate crew members not lucky enough to make it to the safety of the lifeboats. After a protracted rescue mission, Iris is delighted to discover that Evie also made it to safety and is busy working alongside ships surgeon, Dr Mayhew, patching up both wounded soldiers and medics alike. Several of the nurses, including Evie and Iris, decide that they deserve some time ashore, working in a military hospital on dry land. It is whilst here that Evie makes two discoveries which will make her heart sing and change her life forever, although she must first release the pent up emotion and guilt she has carried inside her for so long. For Iris, a face from the past offers her a few more weeks of pure joy, before happiness is once again plucked from her grasp, leaving her grieving and alone.
When war is finally over, Iris and Evie know that they will always remain firm friends, albeit from a distance. A trip to New York leaves Iris the beneficiary of some unexpected generosity from her pre-war cruising client and she is destined to spend much of her time living in Paris, with an annual trip to the USA to visit both her benefactor and Evie, who has now also made that country her temporary home. For Iris, love has always been that illusive rainbow she has been searching for, but she has never given up hope…
This story began and ended with Iris!
…
This multi-layered, intense and atmospheric story, is completely immersive and memorable. It highlights both the fragility and resilience of the human mind, and uncovers the trauma of grief and loss and the long term effects it can have on mental health, in what we would now recognise as PTSD. There are several unexpectedly intense and emotional twists in this highly textured storyline, which is perceptive, intuitive, often raw and passionate, yet profoundly touching. Well structured and sign-posted, the timeline was easy to follow, keeping everything seamless and well-paced. The fluent writing was poignant and beautifully descriptive, evoking a really strong sense of time and place, no matter whereabouts the theatre of action was, as this storyline enjoyed a very large and diverse footprint – perfect for all us ‘armchair travellers’. Personally, and this is simply because I know the area and its history so well, the scenes which took place in and around Netley Hospital in Southampton, resonated the most.
The two principal characters of Iris and Evie, were wonderfully developed and drawn, detailed to the point where I could visualise them leaning on the ship’s rail at the end of a long day enjoying a final smoke and a nip of something stronger than water, to dull the memories of the suffering they have seen that day; eavesdropping on their conversations, and almost knowing what they were thinking and how they were going to react in any given situation, both professionally and personally. Along with the wider cast of characters, the overall dynamics and synergy between them all, makes them completely investable, genuine and authentic in their individual roles, as they are given a generous and strong voice with which to tell their courageous story of resilience over adversity. They represent a complex jigsaw of vulnerable human emotions, which are laid bare when the fragility of the lines between life and death, defeat and survival, love and hate, trust and duplicity, the frailty of the human mind and indeed their very existence, are drawn. However a raw addictive passion and the will to survive, overcomes all the odds stacked against them, making them stronger, determined to be true to themselves, and more united as time goes on.
What always makes reading such a wonderful experience for me, is that with each and every new book, I am taken on a unique and individual journey, by authors who fire my imagination, stir my emotions and stimulate my senses. This story definitely managed to evoke all those feelings, so I can only recommend that you read The Sea Nurses for yourself and see where your journey leads you!
I have to admit that I can’t remember the last time I read a WWI book, so it took a while to adjust to the narrative and dialogue surrounding the alternative style of combat, to that waged in subsequent warfare stories, which are my more usual reading genres. However, regardless of the time or place war has always been a great leveller and class has no place within its ranks. Differences need to be put aside and people have to be ready to stand shoulder to shoulder for the common good and with the singular aim of defeating the enemy and watching the back of your fellow men and women. And so are born tales such as this, of strong and enduring friendships, forged against all the odds, out of necessity and in the face of tremendous adversity.
…
Whilst not upper class by any stretch of the imagination, a well educated Iris, is an assistant medic and senior stewardess, in the first class section of a trans Atlantic cruise liner. Evie, who is destined to cross paths with Iris, comes from more humble beginnings and with a group of other women, travels down from Scotland to Great Yarmouth each year, for the herring season, where she guts and packs the catch, fresh on the quayside. The one thing the girls have in common, is that they are orphans of a similar age and they have also both recently discovered a first time romantic interest, although the hardships of life will end one relationship and the trials of war the other. Iris is as quiet and reserved, as Evie is garrulous and enthusiastic. Iris has had the good fortune to be taken under the wing of one of her wealthy first class clients, whilst Evie has the company of good friends and relatives to turn to in her hour of need.
With the outbreak of war, all ships are requisitioned by the government, with many being converted to hospital ships and it is an inherent fascination with the sea, which finds Iris and Evie and some of Evie’s fellow herring packers, enlisting as nurses. Iris undoubtedly has the most relevant qualifications, so she finds herself trying to manage a team of four enthusiastic girls, although she discovers all too soon, that Evie’s renowned expertise with the gutting knife, is easily re-purposed to make her equally adept with a surgical scalpel and her help becomes invaluable, as does that of all their fellow nursing recruits.
Battle fatigue from numerous Mediterranean rescue missions, is made even more unutterably and unbearably sad by the sinking of The Britannic, with Iris and a few of her fellow survivors witness to the terrible deaths of many of the unfortunate crew members not lucky enough to make it to the safety of the lifeboats. After a protracted rescue mission, Iris is delighted to discover that Evie also made it to safety and is busy working alongside ships surgeon, Dr Mayhew, patching up both wounded soldiers and medics alike. Several of the nurses, including Evie and Iris, decide that they deserve some time ashore, working in a military hospital on dry land. It is whilst here that Evie makes two discoveries which will make her heart sing and change her life forever, although she must first release the pent up emotion and guilt she has carried inside her for so long. For Iris, a face from the past offers her a few more weeks of pure joy, before happiness is once again plucked from her grasp, leaving her grieving and alone.
When war is finally over, Iris and Evie know that they will always remain firm friends, albeit from a distance. A trip to New York leaves Iris the beneficiary of some unexpected generosity from her pre-war cruising client and she is destined to spend much of her time living in Paris, with an annual trip to the USA to visit both her benefactor and Evie, who has now also made that country her temporary home. For Iris, love has always been that illusive rainbow she has been searching for, but she has never given up hope…
This story began and ended with Iris!
…
This multi-layered, intense and atmospheric story, is completely immersive and memorable. It highlights both the fragility and resilience of the human mind, and uncovers the trauma of grief and loss and the long term effects it can have on mental health, in what we would now recognise as PTSD. There are several unexpectedly intense and emotional twists in this highly textured storyline, which is perceptive, intuitive, often raw and passionate, yet profoundly touching. Well structured and sign-posted, the timeline was easy to follow, keeping everything seamless and well-paced. The fluent writing was poignant and beautifully descriptive, evoking a really strong sense of time and place, no matter whereabouts the theatre of action was, as this storyline enjoyed a very large and diverse footprint – perfect for all us ‘armchair travellers’. Personally, and this is simply because I know the area and its history so well, the scenes which took place in and around Netley Hospital in Southampton, resonated the most.
The two principal characters of Iris and Evie, were wonderfully developed and drawn, detailed to the point where I could visualise them leaning on the ship’s rail at the end of a long day enjoying a final smoke and a nip of something stronger than water, to dull the memories of the suffering they have seen that day; eavesdropping on their conversations, and almost knowing what they were thinking and how they were going to react in any given situation, both professionally and personally. Along with the wider cast of characters, the overall dynamics and synergy between them all, makes them completely investable, genuine and authentic in their individual roles, as they are given a generous and strong voice with which to tell their courageous story of resilience over adversity. They represent a complex jigsaw of vulnerable human emotions, which are laid bare when the fragility of the lines between life and death, defeat and survival, love and hate, trust and duplicity, the frailty of the human mind and indeed their very existence, are drawn. However a raw addictive passion and the will to survive, overcomes all the odds stacked against them, making them stronger, determined to be true to themselves, and more united as time goes on.
What always makes reading such a wonderful experience for me, is that with each and every new book, I am taken on a unique and individual journey, by authors who fire my imagination, stir my emotions and stimulate my senses. This story definitely managed to evoke all those feelings, so I can only recommend that you read The Sea Nurses for yourself and see where your journey leads you!
May 31, 2022
The Sea Nurses by Kate Eastham has Iris and Evie joining the war effort in England by becoming nurses on hospital ships. The two women come from diverse backgrounds, but they share a love of nursing. They work together on the HMHS Britannic which was requisitioned and outfitted as a hospital ship. With a red cross on the ship, it is supposed to have safe passage in the ocean. It is no guarantee that an enemy U-boat will not decide to fire upon them. These women will be put to the ultimate test. I thought The Sea Nurses was well-written with realistic, developed characters. I like Iris and Evie who are both gifted nurses. I am glad that the author gave us a unique book on World War I. We get to follow women who have become nurses on a floating hospital. They bring back wounded from the front. The HMHS Britannic was a beautiful ocean liner until war broke out in Europe. We learn how a hospital functions on a ship. I found it fascinating. I could tell the author did her research for this book. We also get to see what life was like on the luxury liners before war. Thanks to the authors vivid descriptions, I could picture myself standing on the deck as the RMS Olympic sailed into New York harbor with the Statue of Liberty in the distance. In contrast, Evie worked fileting herring on the docks. I cannot imagine the long days spent getting the fish ready for market (plus the smell). Injuries were common as they had to work quickly. There are some heartbreaking scenes in The Sea Nurses (have your tissues nearby). I enjoyed reading this engaging historical novel. The Sea Nurses is a story about war, friendships, love, loss, and coming together to work toward a common goal. It is an emotional, dramatic story that will linger with you long after you finish it. The Sea Nurses is a memorable tale with luxury liners, fileting fish, lost loved ones, suffering soldiers, incessant war, and hazardous waters.
June 24, 2022
Iris worked on the ocean liners running between England & the US. A trained nurse as well as being a stewardess gave her the chance to see something of the world, even if sometimes the passengers were a bit demanding. It is 1914 & there is talk of war although it seems a long way from the luxury liner, however when the ship is torpedoed & Iris nearly loses her life she decides to work on the hospital ships.
Evie was one of the girls who followed the herring down the East coast. Gutting the herring was quick but dangerous work & Evie was renowned for being the best at treating the injuries of those that followed the 'Silver Darlings'. When war came she decided to try & use her medical talents.
The pair met & became friends on HMHS Britannic, the account of their wartime work is both fascinating & frightening. This was a really informative read with good characters- even if the romance bits were predictable! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
Evie was one of the girls who followed the herring down the East coast. Gutting the herring was quick but dangerous work & Evie was renowned for being the best at treating the injuries of those that followed the 'Silver Darlings'. When war came she decided to try & use her medical talents.
The pair met & became friends on HMHS Britannic, the account of their wartime work is both fascinating & frightening. This was a really informative read with good characters- even if the romance bits were predictable! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
June 7, 2022
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Sea Nurses' by Kate Eastham.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Kate Eastham, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 6th June 2022.
This is the second book that I have read by this author. I have also read 'An Angel's Work' which I would highly recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful and colourful cover and intriguing sounding blurb. The synopsis stated that this book is 'Perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries, Diney Costeloe and Nancy Revell'. I am a huge fan of Nancy Revell so am hoping this lives up to the statement. I am also a huge fan of Kate and if this is half as good as 'An Angel's Work' it is guaranteed to be a page turner!! I also wanted to read something other than my usual genre of crime fiction and this book fitted the bill perfectly. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue, 22 chapters and an epilogue set over 3 parts. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is set on the RMS Olympic, in Great Yarmouth and Hampshire, England 🏴 and on the HMHS Britannic and HMHS Valdivia.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Iris Purefoy, Evie Munro and Jack Rosetti. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
An emotional rollercoaster coaster ride that does justice to war hero's and victims.
This book is beautifully written from start to finish with descriptions and events that really impact the reader. The settings were perfect for the storyline and I felt as if I was going through everything with the characters. I loved that it was set in so many different places and it felt like I was exploring the world with Iris and Evie. I was devastated to come to the end and have to unpack my cases. It also shows that the author has obviously done her research so a big congratulations on that as it is really irritating when I read historical novels to find the author has done no research and there's so many obvious errors throughout. I was intrigued to find out that Kate had based this novel after reading about Violet Jessop who was a real life sea nurse and I'm looking forward to reading more about her. I always enjoy discovering hero's I had not previously heard of so thank you Kate.
The storyline itself is very powerful and will stay with me for a long time. I also believe it will make a beautiful film. I love the fact that although it is set in darker time that's there's some moments of light hearted humour and romance which lifts the atmosphere on occasions while keeping in mind the seriousness of the situation. I love that this book highlights the importance of women's roles during the war as these can be easily forgotten. This book was a true eye opener to some of the horrific things that would have happened during the war. I held my breathe on several occasions with the many close encounters of several kinds and red herrings which u kept falling for time and again all the way up to the end so well done on that trickery Kate Eastham!! The book is rammed with emotions and is a true rollercoaster ride of them from love to heartbreak, sadness to joy. The book ended absolutely perfectly and I'm over the moon to discover that there will be another book following on their story which I'm looking forward to reading!!
All the characters were portrayed perfectly. I love that there are many strong female role models, mainly that of Iris and Evie who have a fantastic relationship although they were worlds apart with such different personalities and I loved watching their relationship grow and bond deeper. Evie character made me laugh on several occasions with her great and huge personality along with her no nonsense attitude. Along with Iris I really enjoyed that they both were very strong, independent and dedicated role models.
Get the tissues out and clear your schedules for this unputdownable tear jerker.
Overall a powerful, emotional and heart wrenching beautiful novel about friendship, dedication and love during the war.
Genres covered in this novel include Historical Fiction, Women's Sagas, Historical, Women's Historical Fiction, Wartime Saga, Historical Nursing Fiction and Women's Romance Fiction among others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Nadine Dorries, Diney Costeloe, Nancy Revell, World War II historical Fiction lovers or anyone looking for an aspiring book to read.
284 pages.
This book is £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#TheSeaNurses # #Bookouture #KateEastham #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@KateEastham @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhi...
Review for 'The Sea Nurses' by Kate Eastham.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Kate Eastham, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 6th June 2022.
This is the second book that I have read by this author. I have also read 'An Angel's Work' which I would highly recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful and colourful cover and intriguing sounding blurb. The synopsis stated that this book is 'Perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries, Diney Costeloe and Nancy Revell'. I am a huge fan of Nancy Revell so am hoping this lives up to the statement. I am also a huge fan of Kate and if this is half as good as 'An Angel's Work' it is guaranteed to be a page turner!! I also wanted to read something other than my usual genre of crime fiction and this book fitted the bill perfectly. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue, 22 chapters and an epilogue set over 3 parts. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is set on the RMS Olympic, in Great Yarmouth and Hampshire, England 🏴 and on the HMHS Britannic and HMHS Valdivia.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Iris Purefoy, Evie Munro and Jack Rosetti. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
An emotional rollercoaster coaster ride that does justice to war hero's and victims.
This book is beautifully written from start to finish with descriptions and events that really impact the reader. The settings were perfect for the storyline and I felt as if I was going through everything with the characters. I loved that it was set in so many different places and it felt like I was exploring the world with Iris and Evie. I was devastated to come to the end and have to unpack my cases. It also shows that the author has obviously done her research so a big congratulations on that as it is really irritating when I read historical novels to find the author has done no research and there's so many obvious errors throughout. I was intrigued to find out that Kate had based this novel after reading about Violet Jessop who was a real life sea nurse and I'm looking forward to reading more about her. I always enjoy discovering hero's I had not previously heard of so thank you Kate.
The storyline itself is very powerful and will stay with me for a long time. I also believe it will make a beautiful film. I love the fact that although it is set in darker time that's there's some moments of light hearted humour and romance which lifts the atmosphere on occasions while keeping in mind the seriousness of the situation. I love that this book highlights the importance of women's roles during the war as these can be easily forgotten. This book was a true eye opener to some of the horrific things that would have happened during the war. I held my breathe on several occasions with the many close encounters of several kinds and red herrings which u kept falling for time and again all the way up to the end so well done on that trickery Kate Eastham!! The book is rammed with emotions and is a true rollercoaster ride of them from love to heartbreak, sadness to joy. The book ended absolutely perfectly and I'm over the moon to discover that there will be another book following on their story which I'm looking forward to reading!!
All the characters were portrayed perfectly. I love that there are many strong female role models, mainly that of Iris and Evie who have a fantastic relationship although they were worlds apart with such different personalities and I loved watching their relationship grow and bond deeper. Evie character made me laugh on several occasions with her great and huge personality along with her no nonsense attitude. Along with Iris I really enjoyed that they both were very strong, independent and dedicated role models.
Get the tissues out and clear your schedules for this unputdownable tear jerker.
Overall a powerful, emotional and heart wrenching beautiful novel about friendship, dedication and love during the war.
Genres covered in this novel include Historical Fiction, Women's Sagas, Historical, Women's Historical Fiction, Wartime Saga, Historical Nursing Fiction and Women's Romance Fiction among others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Nadine Dorries, Diney Costeloe, Nancy Revell, World War II historical Fiction lovers or anyone looking for an aspiring book to read.
284 pages.
This book is £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#TheSeaNurses # #Bookouture #KateEastham #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@KateEastham @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhi...
Read
June 1, 2022An emotional read that me in tears more than a few times!
May 17, 2022
Iris is a nurse stewardess on a passenger ship. It's 1914 and there is talk of war although many are dismissing the idea as ludicrous. Evie works with the herring and travels from Scotland each year to the Norfolk coast to work the season. This year one of the fishermen has caught her eye and possibly her heart. When war arrives both women work on a military hospital ship collecting and bringing the wounded back from war. The ships Iris worked on have beerequistitioned and altered to become wards rather than grand state rooms. There is much to contend with and far from either the luxury passengers Iris attended to or the fishing wounds Evie tended on shore. This is war and the ship should be safe displaying signage giving them clear passage but nothing can be taken for granted especially as there are potential u boats and mines around.
I really enjoyed this and learnt a little-the horrors of war and social history combined. Life at that time was very different for the differing classes and each knew their place- until it came to war when they stood shoulder to shoulder against the enemy and cared for each other. A wonderful story of life and friendships, love and loss in the most difficult of times. A thoroughly enjoyable, memorable read.
For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog
I really enjoyed this and learnt a little-the horrors of war and social history combined. Life at that time was very different for the differing classes and each knew their place- until it came to war when they stood shoulder to shoulder against the enemy and cared for each other. A wonderful story of life and friendships, love and loss in the most difficult of times. A thoroughly enjoyable, memorable read.
For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog
May 30, 2022
The Sea Nurses by Kate Eastham is a great WWI-era historical fiction saga that is the first book in what I expect will be an exciting new series.
This is such a unique, exciting, and entertaining novel. Set amongst the backdrop of WWI, we get to follow along the comings and goings, the ins and outs, and the fascinating nuts and bolts of the naval aspect of the ocean liners that were transformed into hospitals and transports during the first war.
The author gives us insights and experiences like never before upon the beautiful ships before they were requisitioned and changed for war purposes, and afterwards. I don’t think I have read anything quite like this before. It was fascinating to see how nursing, transport, and medical/hospital protocols were taking place during the early 20th century, especially upon ocean vessels.
Then throw in an interesting and engaging historical fiction narrative with suspense, drama, and invigorating characters, and one has got themselves the start of a great series.
4.5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Bookouture for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 6/6/22.
From the Publisher:
Book Description:
The young nurse ran across the wooden deck, her feet skidding. She spotted an injured young man clinging to the ship’s rail, his eyes wide with terror. She could see the water rushing up to meet them. ‘We need to jump!’ she screamed. In that moment, a wave washed over them. She lunged forward to grab his hand, but she was a second too slow. Somewhere, deep inside the vessel, came a loud crack. The hospital ship was breaking apart…
1914. Evie Munro is a Scottish fisher girl, working the herring season from Wick to Great Yarmouth. For Evie, every day is the same – gutting fish at the docks, shoulder-to-shoulder with her friends, followed by fresh bread, a warm whiskey toddy and an early night. But when Germany declares war on Britain, everything changes.
As her village begins to empty of young men, Evie’s life is marked by a heartbreaking tragedy at home. Her happiness destroyed, she vows to join the war effort as an army nurse, caring for wounded soldiers on the imposing hospital ship Britannic.
But as the war rages on and the ship comes under direct fire, Evie’s courage is put to the ultimate test. Can Evie and the nurses of the HMHS Britannic save the day and heal the patients in their care? Or will her life become one more casualty in Britain’s heroic fight for freedom?
A heartbreaking wartime saga – guaranteed to have you grabbing for the tissues! Perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries, Diney Costeloe and Nancy Revell.
Author Bio:
A change in circumstance meant Kate Eastham made the shift from a career in nursing to being a carer for her partner. Determined to make the most of this new role ‘working from home’ and inspired by an in-depth study of the origins of nursing, she wrote her first novel at the kitchen table. Miss Nightingale’s Nurses was published by Penguin in 2018, closely followed by three more in the series. With her passion for history, Kate aims to make visible the lives of ordinary yet extraordinary women from the past. Her current historical fiction is set during the World Wars and will be published by Bookouture.
https://twitter.com/eastham_kate
Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Kate Eastham here: https://www.bookouture.com/kate-eastham/
Buy Link:
Amazon: https://geni.us/B09VHDPX1Zsocial
You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you'll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzd
This is such a unique, exciting, and entertaining novel. Set amongst the backdrop of WWI, we get to follow along the comings and goings, the ins and outs, and the fascinating nuts and bolts of the naval aspect of the ocean liners that were transformed into hospitals and transports during the first war.
The author gives us insights and experiences like never before upon the beautiful ships before they were requisitioned and changed for war purposes, and afterwards. I don’t think I have read anything quite like this before. It was fascinating to see how nursing, transport, and medical/hospital protocols were taking place during the early 20th century, especially upon ocean vessels.
Then throw in an interesting and engaging historical fiction narrative with suspense, drama, and invigorating characters, and one has got themselves the start of a great series.
4.5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Bookouture for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 6/6/22.
From the Publisher:
Book Description:
The young nurse ran across the wooden deck, her feet skidding. She spotted an injured young man clinging to the ship’s rail, his eyes wide with terror. She could see the water rushing up to meet them. ‘We need to jump!’ she screamed. In that moment, a wave washed over them. She lunged forward to grab his hand, but she was a second too slow. Somewhere, deep inside the vessel, came a loud crack. The hospital ship was breaking apart…
1914. Evie Munro is a Scottish fisher girl, working the herring season from Wick to Great Yarmouth. For Evie, every day is the same – gutting fish at the docks, shoulder-to-shoulder with her friends, followed by fresh bread, a warm whiskey toddy and an early night. But when Germany declares war on Britain, everything changes.
As her village begins to empty of young men, Evie’s life is marked by a heartbreaking tragedy at home. Her happiness destroyed, she vows to join the war effort as an army nurse, caring for wounded soldiers on the imposing hospital ship Britannic.
But as the war rages on and the ship comes under direct fire, Evie’s courage is put to the ultimate test. Can Evie and the nurses of the HMHS Britannic save the day and heal the patients in their care? Or will her life become one more casualty in Britain’s heroic fight for freedom?
A heartbreaking wartime saga – guaranteed to have you grabbing for the tissues! Perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries, Diney Costeloe and Nancy Revell.
Author Bio:
A change in circumstance meant Kate Eastham made the shift from a career in nursing to being a carer for her partner. Determined to make the most of this new role ‘working from home’ and inspired by an in-depth study of the origins of nursing, she wrote her first novel at the kitchen table. Miss Nightingale’s Nurses was published by Penguin in 2018, closely followed by three more in the series. With her passion for history, Kate aims to make visible the lives of ordinary yet extraordinary women from the past. Her current historical fiction is set during the World Wars and will be published by Bookouture.
https://twitter.com/eastham_kate
Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Kate Eastham here: https://www.bookouture.com/kate-eastham/
Buy Link:
Amazon: https://geni.us/B09VHDPX1Zsocial
You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you'll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzd
June 10, 2022
The Sea Nurses is an amazing, compelling, heartbreaking and original story of courage and loss. A wonderful start to what I think is going to be a hard-hitting and addictive series, I can’t wait!
I am in absolute love with this book, for a saga it is incredibly well-paced, I have become rather picky when sagas are concerned as I have started to find them a little too long-winded and slow for my liking but this is entirely different, to me, it didn’t read like a saga it’s punchy and gritty as well as dramatic and heart-breaking raw and emotional.
I have read a lot of WW1 fiction, I mean stacks upon stacks of them and yet this is the first I have read with the story set right in the midst of the Navy, even more so being told via the perspective of the women.
This tells the stories of Evie and her fellow ‘Sea Nurses’ as they leave behind all that they know and do what is needed of them, I was fascinated with her harsh life as a fisher girl, that alone isn’t an easy job she is a strong, hard-working and faithful young woman and when tragedy strikes and the more and more of the local village young men keep leaving to join the war she knows deep down she needs to do more than gut fish. She is heartbroken and she impulsively joins the war effort as a nurse. But her struggles, abilities and her emotions will be tested to the limit.
I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the war life of the HMS Britannic, I never knew that during the war the grand sister ship to the Titanic was converted into a hospital ship. The historical research and descriptive details are second to none, I love it when an author really delves into the past and brings all of what they have gleaned to the forefront of the story, it gives the story compassion and tragic realism.
Overall, an inspiring book which will have you sobbing and feeling in complete awe over what these brave women did, I can’t wait for more!
I am in absolute love with this book, for a saga it is incredibly well-paced, I have become rather picky when sagas are concerned as I have started to find them a little too long-winded and slow for my liking but this is entirely different, to me, it didn’t read like a saga it’s punchy and gritty as well as dramatic and heart-breaking raw and emotional.
I have read a lot of WW1 fiction, I mean stacks upon stacks of them and yet this is the first I have read with the story set right in the midst of the Navy, even more so being told via the perspective of the women.
This tells the stories of Evie and her fellow ‘Sea Nurses’ as they leave behind all that they know and do what is needed of them, I was fascinated with her harsh life as a fisher girl, that alone isn’t an easy job she is a strong, hard-working and faithful young woman and when tragedy strikes and the more and more of the local village young men keep leaving to join the war she knows deep down she needs to do more than gut fish. She is heartbroken and she impulsively joins the war effort as a nurse. But her struggles, abilities and her emotions will be tested to the limit.
I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the war life of the HMS Britannic, I never knew that during the war the grand sister ship to the Titanic was converted into a hospital ship. The historical research and descriptive details are second to none, I love it when an author really delves into the past and brings all of what they have gleaned to the forefront of the story, it gives the story compassion and tragic realism.
Overall, an inspiring book which will have you sobbing and feeling in complete awe over what these brave women did, I can’t wait for more!
June 13, 2022
Read his full review on Rosepoint Publishing.
Iris Purefoy is a worker in a fish processing plant turned nurse. The tale begins on large ocean-liners, The RMS Olympic and HMHS Brittanic!
Hospital ships are prime targets for German submarines. The nurses serve twelve-hour shifts six days a week. The pressure is immense and the pace grueling. Extreme mental duress is always a factor. Looking at a patient with a limb missing and then assuring them that all will be well is not an easy task!
Nurses by their personalities are empaths and feel the need to assuage the pain of those in their care, but they must effectively remove themselves from the obvious pain of their charges and work as quickly and effectively as possible. Triage is one of the most critical and heartbreaking tasks of their job. Assuring the patient he will be taken care of quickly and knowing that he is dying is heartbreaking but necessary.
The dialogue and descriptions of the nurses in this book are heartwarming and endearing. I found myself drawn to their humanity and abilities fulfilling. Whether they were on cruise ships or hospital ships, they treated their patients with professionalism and caring. I applaud the author in her treatment of this heartbreaking anthology of nurses in time of war. 4.5 stars – CE Williams
Iris Purefoy is a worker in a fish processing plant turned nurse. The tale begins on large ocean-liners, The RMS Olympic and HMHS Brittanic!
Hospital ships are prime targets for German submarines. The nurses serve twelve-hour shifts six days a week. The pressure is immense and the pace grueling. Extreme mental duress is always a factor. Looking at a patient with a limb missing and then assuring them that all will be well is not an easy task!
Nurses by their personalities are empaths and feel the need to assuage the pain of those in their care, but they must effectively remove themselves from the obvious pain of their charges and work as quickly and effectively as possible. Triage is one of the most critical and heartbreaking tasks of their job. Assuring the patient he will be taken care of quickly and knowing that he is dying is heartbreaking but necessary.
The dialogue and descriptions of the nurses in this book are heartwarming and endearing. I found myself drawn to their humanity and abilities fulfilling. Whether they were on cruise ships or hospital ships, they treated their patients with professionalism and caring. I applaud the author in her treatment of this heartbreaking anthology of nurses in time of war. 4.5 stars – CE Williams
June 9, 2022
THE SEA NURSES by Kate Easrtham, takes its reader on an utterly heartbreaking journey of war, friendship, courage, and suspense as Germany and Britain declare their place during the early part of the 20th century ~ World War I.
Aboard the ships, The RMS Olympic and The HMS Brittanic, friendships will form, lives will change, emotions run high, the wounded become ever-increasing, and medical staff will be pushed to their limits.
Iris and Evie, two women from very different backgrounds, are portrayed not only as Sea Nurses within this story, but we learn of their lives and personalities in a way that lends great detail and brilliance to these characters and their surroundings during the whispers of war and beyond.
The author has crafted a story that for me, goes beyond the historical fiction read I expected it to be. It's written with great detail, vivid scenes, heart-pounding situations, and brought forth with great care as it plays in the mind like a moving picture.
From its emotionally-charged drama, to its fascinating and most intriguing elements of research, THE SEA NURSES is a stand-out novel which delivers a profoundly unique storyline, and one which kept me up to all hours, and on the edge of my seat.
I thank the author, Bookouture, and NetGalley for this wonderful opportunity, and very much look forward to what will be revealed next as this new series continues...
5 Stars!
#TheSeaNurses
#KateEastham
#Bookouture
Wild Sage Book Blog
Aboard the ships, The RMS Olympic and The HMS Brittanic, friendships will form, lives will change, emotions run high, the wounded become ever-increasing, and medical staff will be pushed to their limits.
Iris and Evie, two women from very different backgrounds, are portrayed not only as Sea Nurses within this story, but we learn of their lives and personalities in a way that lends great detail and brilliance to these characters and their surroundings during the whispers of war and beyond.
The author has crafted a story that for me, goes beyond the historical fiction read I expected it to be. It's written with great detail, vivid scenes, heart-pounding situations, and brought forth with great care as it plays in the mind like a moving picture.
From its emotionally-charged drama, to its fascinating and most intriguing elements of research, THE SEA NURSES is a stand-out novel which delivers a profoundly unique storyline, and one which kept me up to all hours, and on the edge of my seat.
I thank the author, Bookouture, and NetGalley for this wonderful opportunity, and very much look forward to what will be revealed next as this new series continues...
5 Stars!
#TheSeaNurses
#KateEastham
#Bookouture
Wild Sage Book Blog
June 8, 2022
As a nurse in the 21st century, I found it really interesting to read about what nursing was like so long ago.
Evie and Iris are nurses, although the path to becoming a nurse was different for both of them. Evie guts herrings for a living but on the side, she does the first aid when it is needed for the fisher women as well. Iris is a stewardess/nurse, looking after spoilt, rich passengers on large ships. How they come to be working together, is very interesting.
I enjoyed reading both their backstories and how they came to be nurses during WWI. The descriptions of what they had to contend with, nursing men who had just come off the battlefield, made me shudder and feel grateful that we are not currently at war in this country.
Well written book.
4.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
Evie and Iris are nurses, although the path to becoming a nurse was different for both of them. Evie guts herrings for a living but on the side, she does the first aid when it is needed for the fisher women as well. Iris is a stewardess/nurse, looking after spoilt, rich passengers on large ships. How they come to be working together, is very interesting.
I enjoyed reading both their backstories and how they came to be nurses during WWI. The descriptions of what they had to contend with, nursing men who had just come off the battlefield, made me shudder and feel grateful that we are not currently at war in this country.
Well written book.
4.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
June 16, 2022
Excellent in-depth story! 😉
Hardly Any, hand wringing going on here,
Yay! 👏
Merely an interesting & well told tale of the conditions these Nurses actually lived through?
Of course it’s a sanitised version! .. We can’t be knowing the true facts 😱 I don’t think anyone reads this type of Novel about Wars wanting them to be factually accurate, for me anyway it’s more about the fortitude of the people and their families.
I believe this author was trained as a Nurse, there’s certainly enough gory bits gleaned from her profession in this to satisfy anyone.
I really enjoyed the book .. ie once I’d got past the smell of fish. 🤢
Hardly Any, hand wringing going on here,
Yay! 👏
Merely an interesting & well told tale of the conditions these Nurses actually lived through?
Of course it’s a sanitised version! .. We can’t be knowing the true facts 😱 I don’t think anyone reads this type of Novel about Wars wanting them to be factually accurate, for me anyway it’s more about the fortitude of the people and their families.
I believe this author was trained as a Nurse, there’s certainly enough gory bits gleaned from her profession in this to satisfy anyone.
I really enjoyed the book .. ie once I’d got past the smell of fish. 🤢
June 6, 2022
The Sea Nurses by Kate Eastham certainly starts off with an explosive opening in 1916 as the HMS Britannic, a hospital ship, is breaking apart. A nurse struggles to reach safety and is then sent flying overboard and left drifting in the sea with death and destruction all around her. Well, these few brief pages certainly had me keen to read more. Who was the nurse? How did she come to be on the ship and what exactly happened to the ship for it to be breaking apart? But long before we reach that point we go back in time to August 1914 and we are introduced to one of the main female characters, Iris Purefoy. The other character being Evie Munro who we learn more about later.
Given the title you would expect the author to launch straight into the war years and how nurses away at sea dealt with the trauma and bloodshed inflicted on so many. But no, instead we are given the background stories to the two women, which was welcome and vital in helping the reader form a picture of them as they both came from very differing backgrounds and then in turn we see how they come to work alongside one another as sea nurses during the war years. I have read heaps of books set during World War Two and by this stage I feel like I know the subject matter inside out. As for World War One, I find there aren’t that many books set during that period so I was glad when The Sea Nurses featured these years.
Kate Eastham brings to life a time so vastly different from the one we live in now. Well, sadly not in the fact that we still have wars raging in the present but the life of Iris working as a first class stewardess for the White Star Line and all the glamour and surprises that brought, we’ll never see an era like that again. Iris works on the luxury liner, HMS Olympic, and she loves every minute of it. Life at sea provides a sense of freedom and several opportunities come her way. She is also a qualified nurse so she has that extra special touch when it comes to dealing with first class passengers. Especially, the tricky customer that is Miss. Duchamp who at times has her run ragged with her fussy ways. But Miss. Duchamp will have an important role to play later in the story. We get an insight as to how Iris came to work on the liner. She grew up in India, but her parents died when she was young and she was sent to live with a maiden aunt in England. When she was older she worked as a nurse but suffered sepsis from an injury and needed time out to recuperate. When well again, she felt the job as a nurse stewardess would provide the change she needed in life and adventures at sea seemed like she just what she craved.
Iris was a fabulously written character and to view the ship through her eyes was brilliant. All the glitz and the glamour of first class and the camaraderie of those below deck and in steerage. It was a special era and Kate Eastham brought it to life so well. Iris was a brilliantly written character. She showed many sides to her personality, the strict, disciplined and professional side but also when not working you could see her relax slightly, yet the iron will and passion she had was always there simmering under the surface. I appreciated the friendship she developed with Evie. I would say it wasn’t a sisterly relationship more so like mother and daughter with Iris being the more sensible and wiser of the two. She had a clear and strong head on her shoulders whereas I felt Evie was more flighty. Iris always displayed resilience and independence at least on the outside but deep below her self-contained core she was just like any other woman she just wanted to be loved and cared for. Will Jack Rosetti, a rogue of a stowaway, catch her eye or has fate different plans in store for her? With the outbreak of war Iris’ carefully ordered world away at sea is turned on its head and there are many challenges ahead as the majority of liners are turned into hospital ships.
Evie was the complete antithesis of Iris and it really helped the plot to have two contrasting characters but at the same they could come together for each other when fate throws them together in a situation they had never dreamed possible. Evie is from a small Scottish village but spends the herring season working in Great Yarmouth. The sea always calls to her and she works with many women dealing with the catch brought in by the fleet. She has no specific qualifications but when someone is injured she can be relied upon to do a good job of patching them up. Evie had a wild spirit. She loved being out in the open but she has suffered loss in her life with her father being lost to the sea when she was younger and now all she has left is her brother who is married to a woman she doesn’t particularly get on with. She doesn’t understand loss nor she is especially equipped to deal with the savagery of it and even more so when the man of her dreams, Jamie, is lost at sea. Yet more, tragedy befalls her, the specifics of which I won’t go into. Suffice, to say the author certainly put Evie through the mill definitely more so than Iris. In the later half of the book, I found she put on a brave face but deep down she was haunted by her experiences. When war breaks out she views it as a fresh start for her but she wouldn’t have wished for war to occur in order for her to see more of the world. She becomes a Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nurse and although she is but a probationer she is unrelenting in her work, fierce and full of ideas.
It’s at this point that the two characters of Iris and Evie finally meet and life onboard the hospital ship tests all the courage and strength that they both have. I found the scenes on board the ship to be detailed and well researched. The men and women who were doctors and nurses respectively did incredible things under immense pressure in order to save as many lives as possible and what struck me was the limited amount of resources they had and the fact they operated at sea and tended to so many injured was just incredible. The author certainly brought to life a time which I feel has been forgotten. The book overall was very good and a quite a quick read and being truthfully honest I felt that at times things happened too quickly and events were glossed over instead of more detailing being provided.
Given the first half had such detail which made the book come alive for me, I expected the same from the second half. Yes the major climax of the book and a huge turning point for all the characters was horrifying and so vividly written but I felt after that, the war years were skipped through quickly and things happened rather conveniently for some of the characters. Not that what occurred you wouldn’t have wanted not to happen but I felt a little bit more fleshing out was needed and at times the later half of the book felt rushed and suffered for it. Despite this, I am glad I read The Sea Nurses as it is an emotional and inspiring read which reminds us to never forget those who have gone before us and who did so much in a time of great peril. I was delighted to read that there will be more from Evie and Iris in the future as World War Two looms on the horizon for them.
Given the title you would expect the author to launch straight into the war years and how nurses away at sea dealt with the trauma and bloodshed inflicted on so many. But no, instead we are given the background stories to the two women, which was welcome and vital in helping the reader form a picture of them as they both came from very differing backgrounds and then in turn we see how they come to work alongside one another as sea nurses during the war years. I have read heaps of books set during World War Two and by this stage I feel like I know the subject matter inside out. As for World War One, I find there aren’t that many books set during that period so I was glad when The Sea Nurses featured these years.
Kate Eastham brings to life a time so vastly different from the one we live in now. Well, sadly not in the fact that we still have wars raging in the present but the life of Iris working as a first class stewardess for the White Star Line and all the glamour and surprises that brought, we’ll never see an era like that again. Iris works on the luxury liner, HMS Olympic, and she loves every minute of it. Life at sea provides a sense of freedom and several opportunities come her way. She is also a qualified nurse so she has that extra special touch when it comes to dealing with first class passengers. Especially, the tricky customer that is Miss. Duchamp who at times has her run ragged with her fussy ways. But Miss. Duchamp will have an important role to play later in the story. We get an insight as to how Iris came to work on the liner. She grew up in India, but her parents died when she was young and she was sent to live with a maiden aunt in England. When she was older she worked as a nurse but suffered sepsis from an injury and needed time out to recuperate. When well again, she felt the job as a nurse stewardess would provide the change she needed in life and adventures at sea seemed like she just what she craved.
Iris was a fabulously written character and to view the ship through her eyes was brilliant. All the glitz and the glamour of first class and the camaraderie of those below deck and in steerage. It was a special era and Kate Eastham brought it to life so well. Iris was a brilliantly written character. She showed many sides to her personality, the strict, disciplined and professional side but also when not working you could see her relax slightly, yet the iron will and passion she had was always there simmering under the surface. I appreciated the friendship she developed with Evie. I would say it wasn’t a sisterly relationship more so like mother and daughter with Iris being the more sensible and wiser of the two. She had a clear and strong head on her shoulders whereas I felt Evie was more flighty. Iris always displayed resilience and independence at least on the outside but deep below her self-contained core she was just like any other woman she just wanted to be loved and cared for. Will Jack Rosetti, a rogue of a stowaway, catch her eye or has fate different plans in store for her? With the outbreak of war Iris’ carefully ordered world away at sea is turned on its head and there are many challenges ahead as the majority of liners are turned into hospital ships.
Evie was the complete antithesis of Iris and it really helped the plot to have two contrasting characters but at the same they could come together for each other when fate throws them together in a situation they had never dreamed possible. Evie is from a small Scottish village but spends the herring season working in Great Yarmouth. The sea always calls to her and she works with many women dealing with the catch brought in by the fleet. She has no specific qualifications but when someone is injured she can be relied upon to do a good job of patching them up. Evie had a wild spirit. She loved being out in the open but she has suffered loss in her life with her father being lost to the sea when she was younger and now all she has left is her brother who is married to a woman she doesn’t particularly get on with. She doesn’t understand loss nor she is especially equipped to deal with the savagery of it and even more so when the man of her dreams, Jamie, is lost at sea. Yet more, tragedy befalls her, the specifics of which I won’t go into. Suffice, to say the author certainly put Evie through the mill definitely more so than Iris. In the later half of the book, I found she put on a brave face but deep down she was haunted by her experiences. When war breaks out she views it as a fresh start for her but she wouldn’t have wished for war to occur in order for her to see more of the world. She becomes a Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nurse and although she is but a probationer she is unrelenting in her work, fierce and full of ideas.
It’s at this point that the two characters of Iris and Evie finally meet and life onboard the hospital ship tests all the courage and strength that they both have. I found the scenes on board the ship to be detailed and well researched. The men and women who were doctors and nurses respectively did incredible things under immense pressure in order to save as many lives as possible and what struck me was the limited amount of resources they had and the fact they operated at sea and tended to so many injured was just incredible. The author certainly brought to life a time which I feel has been forgotten. The book overall was very good and a quite a quick read and being truthfully honest I felt that at times things happened too quickly and events were glossed over instead of more detailing being provided.
Given the first half had such detail which made the book come alive for me, I expected the same from the second half. Yes the major climax of the book and a huge turning point for all the characters was horrifying and so vividly written but I felt after that, the war years were skipped through quickly and things happened rather conveniently for some of the characters. Not that what occurred you wouldn’t have wanted not to happen but I felt a little bit more fleshing out was needed and at times the later half of the book felt rushed and suffered for it. Despite this, I am glad I read The Sea Nurses as it is an emotional and inspiring read which reminds us to never forget those who have gone before us and who did so much in a time of great peril. I was delighted to read that there will be more from Evie and Iris in the future as World War Two looms on the horizon for them.
June 5, 2022
★★★★ 3.5 stars (rounded up)
I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Kate Eastham's wartime saga tale THE SEA NURSES.
This is the third book by Kate Eastham I've read and it was relatively enjoyable with the unique aspect of beginning on a cruise ship liner to becoming military hospital during the war. In the early 1910's, there were three sister ships built for the White Star Line for passage from London to New York primarily. They were Olympic, Britannic and the ill-fated Titanic. But even after Titanic's demise, the Olympic and Britannic continued to make the TransAtlantic voyage. THE SEA NURSES begins on one and continues on another.
It's 1914 and Iris Purefoy is a stewardess and nurse for the White Star Line on board the RMS Olympic to New York. There have been whispers of war amongst the passengers though many believe if it were to come it would be over in weeks anyway. Others are dismissing the idea of war as ludicrous. Beginning in second class, Iris soon made her way up to First Class and found herself as the occasional personal maid for Miss Amelia Duchamp, on passage from Paris to New York. The elderly woman has a feisty little Pekingnese called Marco whom she dotes on and who has nipped Iris more than once. Miss Duchamp is incredibly demanding with high expectations but Iris sees to her needs as her charge requires.
One night on deck, Iris sees a flash in the shadows and meets Jack Rosetti, a young American who lost his ticket in a car game but managed to stowaway on the liner. Iris took pity on him when he disclosed that his mother was dying and he wanted to reach her before it was too late. Against her better judgement, Iris chose to ignore his illegal passage and tried to ignore the young man each time she saw him. But there was something captivating about him. His smile, his eyes, his laughter. He asked to see her on shore before the ship made its way back to Britain, but news of the war changed any plans made and the RMS Olympic hastily made its return to become a troop ship.
Arriving back in England, Iris had decided to put her nurses training to good use and join a military hospital, following matron to Netley in Southampton.
Meanwhile, in Great Yarmouth Evie Munro was a fisher girl who travelled from her native Scotland each year to the Norfolk coast to work the herring season. This year she meets Jamie who captures her heart. But life as a fisherman is a hard one out on the roughs of the North Sea, and it is often fraught with tragedy. Life as a fisher girl is also a tough one, and Evie jumps into action to assist when one of them is injured, using her skills to suture and bandage and even nurse her charges back from the onset of sepsis. She is not a nurse but she has the skills of one. When the season is over, Evie travels home to Scotland with her friends with a heaviness she'd never felt before. And with the war approaching, she makes a decision. Leaving her past behind her, she travels to Southampton as a probationary nurse where she falls under the charge of Nurse Purefoy.
After almost a year at Netley, Iris and Evie along with some of the VADs, begin work on the former cruise liner Britannic, now a military hopsital ship that had been requisitioned for the war, collecting soldiers from the Front and bringing them back to England. Their job is to nurse the injured men and help keep them alive until they are then transferred to a hospital on shore. Life is far different for both women - from the luxurious state rooms Iris had worked as a stewardess or the fishing wounds Evie had once tended. Despite their's being a military hospital ship displaying a prominent red cross and signage to give them clear passage and prevent them from being fired upon but this is war and no one is safe. There was nothing stopping them hitting an underwater mine or a U-boat firing upon them, mistaking them for the enemy.
Life changes for both Iris and Evie in profound ways throughout the course of the war. Particularly when a new orderly is taken on Britannic and Iris is shocked to be looking into the smiling eyes of Jack Rosetti once again. Ever the professional, Iris keeps her distance particularly as fraternisation between male and female staff is not permitted and Sister frowns upon such a blatant disregard for the rules.
And then life changes in an instant off the Mediterranean coast and each must make a snap decision to save themselves before it's too late.
A heartrendering and emotional tale, THE SEA NURSES takes on a unique aspect of a wartime saga in that it is on board former cruise liner ships now decked out as floating military hospitals. I like how it began with Iris as a stewardess so we get a glimpse of life aboard those ships before the war and therefore becoming military hospitals or troop ships. There was a hint of glamour befor being thrust into the horrors of war and the promise of something to come when it was all over.
With Evie it was a little different. I felt that she was more of a secondary character to Iris' main one. I also felt that the friendship between the two women wasn't at the forefront of the story as much as the premise alluded to. I felt the women didn't really connect as friends throughout the story...not until almost the end after Evie's shocking find beneath the pier. I found Evie connected more with her fisher friends - Rita and Minnie - and even her brother and sister in law, more than Iris. To me, Iris felt more of her superior than a friend and any connection between the two women was lost. Their meetings up on deck in the evenings wasn't enough to make a close friendship as the narrative spoke or Iris in one context or Evie in another. The women were hardly ever together, forming a bond of friendship, not on page at least.
I liked both women but I didn't feel there was enough there to make them such close friends. They were too separate and never seemed to really connect. I found Iris closer to Miss Duchamp and she hadn't seen her since that final voyage at the beginning of the war, though the women remained in constant contact via letter.
I enjoyed THE SEA NURSES but not near so much as "When the World Stood Still" which I absolutely loved. I would have liked the ending to have gone a little further than another sea voyage, with a final glimpse of New York.
An entertaining read, THE SEA NURSES is an interesting and engaging historical wartime saga complete with drama and suspense of life, love, friendships and loss. Perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries and Diney Costeloe.
I would like to thank #KateEastham, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheSeaNurses in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Kate Eastham's wartime saga tale THE SEA NURSES.
This is the third book by Kate Eastham I've read and it was relatively enjoyable with the unique aspect of beginning on a cruise ship liner to becoming military hospital during the war. In the early 1910's, there were three sister ships built for the White Star Line for passage from London to New York primarily. They were Olympic, Britannic and the ill-fated Titanic. But even after Titanic's demise, the Olympic and Britannic continued to make the TransAtlantic voyage. THE SEA NURSES begins on one and continues on another.
It's 1914 and Iris Purefoy is a stewardess and nurse for the White Star Line on board the RMS Olympic to New York. There have been whispers of war amongst the passengers though many believe if it were to come it would be over in weeks anyway. Others are dismissing the idea of war as ludicrous. Beginning in second class, Iris soon made her way up to First Class and found herself as the occasional personal maid for Miss Amelia Duchamp, on passage from Paris to New York. The elderly woman has a feisty little Pekingnese called Marco whom she dotes on and who has nipped Iris more than once. Miss Duchamp is incredibly demanding with high expectations but Iris sees to her needs as her charge requires.
One night on deck, Iris sees a flash in the shadows and meets Jack Rosetti, a young American who lost his ticket in a car game but managed to stowaway on the liner. Iris took pity on him when he disclosed that his mother was dying and he wanted to reach her before it was too late. Against her better judgement, Iris chose to ignore his illegal passage and tried to ignore the young man each time she saw him. But there was something captivating about him. His smile, his eyes, his laughter. He asked to see her on shore before the ship made its way back to Britain, but news of the war changed any plans made and the RMS Olympic hastily made its return to become a troop ship.
Arriving back in England, Iris had decided to put her nurses training to good use and join a military hospital, following matron to Netley in Southampton.
Meanwhile, in Great Yarmouth Evie Munro was a fisher girl who travelled from her native Scotland each year to the Norfolk coast to work the herring season. This year she meets Jamie who captures her heart. But life as a fisherman is a hard one out on the roughs of the North Sea, and it is often fraught with tragedy. Life as a fisher girl is also a tough one, and Evie jumps into action to assist when one of them is injured, using her skills to suture and bandage and even nurse her charges back from the onset of sepsis. She is not a nurse but she has the skills of one. When the season is over, Evie travels home to Scotland with her friends with a heaviness she'd never felt before. And with the war approaching, she makes a decision. Leaving her past behind her, she travels to Southampton as a probationary nurse where she falls under the charge of Nurse Purefoy.
After almost a year at Netley, Iris and Evie along with some of the VADs, begin work on the former cruise liner Britannic, now a military hopsital ship that had been requisitioned for the war, collecting soldiers from the Front and bringing them back to England. Their job is to nurse the injured men and help keep them alive until they are then transferred to a hospital on shore. Life is far different for both women - from the luxurious state rooms Iris had worked as a stewardess or the fishing wounds Evie had once tended. Despite their's being a military hospital ship displaying a prominent red cross and signage to give them clear passage and prevent them from being fired upon but this is war and no one is safe. There was nothing stopping them hitting an underwater mine or a U-boat firing upon them, mistaking them for the enemy.
Life changes for both Iris and Evie in profound ways throughout the course of the war. Particularly when a new orderly is taken on Britannic and Iris is shocked to be looking into the smiling eyes of Jack Rosetti once again. Ever the professional, Iris keeps her distance particularly as fraternisation between male and female staff is not permitted and Sister frowns upon such a blatant disregard for the rules.
And then life changes in an instant off the Mediterranean coast and each must make a snap decision to save themselves before it's too late.
A heartrendering and emotional tale, THE SEA NURSES takes on a unique aspect of a wartime saga in that it is on board former cruise liner ships now decked out as floating military hospitals. I like how it began with Iris as a stewardess so we get a glimpse of life aboard those ships before the war and therefore becoming military hospitals or troop ships. There was a hint of glamour befor being thrust into the horrors of war and the promise of something to come when it was all over.
With Evie it was a little different. I felt that she was more of a secondary character to Iris' main one. I also felt that the friendship between the two women wasn't at the forefront of the story as much as the premise alluded to. I felt the women didn't really connect as friends throughout the story...not until almost the end after Evie's shocking find beneath the pier. I found Evie connected more with her fisher friends - Rita and Minnie - and even her brother and sister in law, more than Iris. To me, Iris felt more of her superior than a friend and any connection between the two women was lost. Their meetings up on deck in the evenings wasn't enough to make a close friendship as the narrative spoke or Iris in one context or Evie in another. The women were hardly ever together, forming a bond of friendship, not on page at least.
I liked both women but I didn't feel there was enough there to make them such close friends. They were too separate and never seemed to really connect. I found Iris closer to Miss Duchamp and she hadn't seen her since that final voyage at the beginning of the war, though the women remained in constant contact via letter.
I enjoyed THE SEA NURSES but not near so much as "When the World Stood Still" which I absolutely loved. I would have liked the ending to have gone a little further than another sea voyage, with a final glimpse of New York.
An entertaining read, THE SEA NURSES is an interesting and engaging historical wartime saga complete with drama and suspense of life, love, friendships and loss. Perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries and Diney Costeloe.
I would like to thank #KateEastham, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheSeaNurses in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
September 4, 2022
Set during the First World War, Kate Eastham’s The Sea Nurses is a poignant, immersive and dramatic tale of courage, sacrifice and resilience sure to bring a tear to every reader’s eye.
For Scottish fisher girl Evie Munro working the herring season in Great Yarmouth, the days stretch long and laboriously ahead of her. The work is back-breaking and hard, the hours relentless and every new day monotonously similar to the last. Yet, little do Evie and her fellow fisher girls realise that great change is coming because Germany has just declared war on Britain and life will never be the same ever again.
As young men sign up to do their duty for king and country, a heart-breaking tragedy hits far too close to home for Evie. With her future destroyed and all her hopes and dreams shattered into a million tiny pieces, Evie decides to join the war effort and do her bit to help defeat the enemy. Signing up to be an army nurse on the hospital ship Britannic, Evie is going to be challenged like never before as she finds herself in the thick of the action.
With the war showing no sign of slowing down, Evie and her fellow nurses are tested on an hourly basis. Will they manage to keep soldiering on and heal the patients in their care? Or will these brave and courageous nurses end up paying far too high a price while serving their country?
Vivid, heart-wrenching and emotional, Kate Eastham’s The Sea Nurses is an immensely enjoyable wartime saga that that vividly evokes the sacrifices made by resilient young women during the First World War.
Evie is a wonderful heroine whose strength, generosity and heart are to be admired and she will to have every single reader rooting for her. The difficulties and challenges onboard the Britannic are brought to stark life by Kate Eastham and readers will feel every single emotion her characters go through.
A first-rate wartime saga from a wonderful storyteller, Kate Eastham’s The Sea Nurses is not to be missed.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
For Scottish fisher girl Evie Munro working the herring season in Great Yarmouth, the days stretch long and laboriously ahead of her. The work is back-breaking and hard, the hours relentless and every new day monotonously similar to the last. Yet, little do Evie and her fellow fisher girls realise that great change is coming because Germany has just declared war on Britain and life will never be the same ever again.
As young men sign up to do their duty for king and country, a heart-breaking tragedy hits far too close to home for Evie. With her future destroyed and all her hopes and dreams shattered into a million tiny pieces, Evie decides to join the war effort and do her bit to help defeat the enemy. Signing up to be an army nurse on the hospital ship Britannic, Evie is going to be challenged like never before as she finds herself in the thick of the action.
With the war showing no sign of slowing down, Evie and her fellow nurses are tested on an hourly basis. Will they manage to keep soldiering on and heal the patients in their care? Or will these brave and courageous nurses end up paying far too high a price while serving their country?
Vivid, heart-wrenching and emotional, Kate Eastham’s The Sea Nurses is an immensely enjoyable wartime saga that that vividly evokes the sacrifices made by resilient young women during the First World War.
Evie is a wonderful heroine whose strength, generosity and heart are to be admired and she will to have every single reader rooting for her. The difficulties and challenges onboard the Britannic are brought to stark life by Kate Eastham and readers will feel every single emotion her characters go through.
A first-rate wartime saga from a wonderful storyteller, Kate Eastham’s The Sea Nurses is not to be missed.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 8, 2022
Atypical Tale That Pulls No Punches. While the WWI period isn't *quite* as common in historical fiction tales as WWII, it is hardly the rarity another reviewer claims it to be - though this *is*, in fact, the first tale I've come across to detail life on the ships of the White Star Line in the years after the Titanic catastrophe. As such, Eastham does a great job here of showing life aboard the Olympic during its last cruise before Germany declared war on Great Britain - and the moment those on the ship first learned of that fact. We also see a vivid description of life along the coasts of Scotland and its great fisherman... and the women who toiled so hard to process all the fish that were caught. Eastham then dives into The Great War itself... as seen through the eyes of these nurses (mostly) as they serve on the HMHS Britannic. Eastham actually uses the moment of its sinking as a prologue, before eventually getting back to that moment deep in the book (around the 70% mark, IIRC). Eastham then continues to follow these two nurses through the end of the war, and it is here in particular that she shows the bravery to do things few authors do. Overall a solid tale of its type, one fans of the genre will love and which even those new to the genre will get a good example of this type of tale. Very much recommended.
March 16, 2025
I love historical fiction, and as a retired RN, when medicine is involved it becomes even more interesting to me. I am also a lover of the sea. So I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this novel! Well written, with likable and believable characters, I learned so much about the history of that time period. From the great ocean liners carrying people across the Atlantic, to the medical ships that saved so many lives during WWI, to the huge Tetley Hospital (be sure and Google it; amazing!). I was also reminded of how fortunate we are to have antibiotics, so that a minor cut no longer causes loss of limb and often death due to infection. And also reminded of the tragedy of war. And here we are, still so often settling our differences with the blood of our young men.
June 6, 2022
Set during World War One this tells the story of Iris and Evie as they work first on a hospital ship and then after choosing to work in the hospital in Southampton. We meet the characters before the War and Iris is already working on the ship as Nurse/Stewardess and Evie is a fisher girl gutting and preparing the herrings in Yarmouth. After meeting on board the girls become firm friends. There are lots of ups and downs for both girls during this difficult time. Once you pick it up you will be drawn into both of their lives and you will find it hard to put down. I really enjoyed this book and I was pleased to see there will be more from the girls in the future.
May 22, 2022
Get those tissues ready you're going to need them if you read the Sea Nurses.
Set during world war 1 the story follows Iris and Evil, two nurses from very different backgrounds who come together during the war working aboard the medical ships. They both suffer a lot of liss and hardship.
This was extremely well researched giving a good insight into another view of the war years seldom mentioned. I found this fascinating.
It is heart-rending at times, as the story is so well written, and the characters feel so well that I found myself sobbing on many occasions
Set during world war 1 the story follows Iris and Evil, two nurses from very different backgrounds who come together during the war working aboard the medical ships. They both suffer a lot of liss and hardship.
This was extremely well researched giving a good insight into another view of the war years seldom mentioned. I found this fascinating.
It is heart-rending at times, as the story is so well written, and the characters feel so well that I found myself sobbing on many occasions
December 31, 2022
set during WWI plus shipboard nursing made this about a different period in history for me
I read a lot of WWII historical books but not many about WWI are available. This story is based on an actual person’s story and the history of the ships and of shipboard living and nursing are factual. This makes the book even more interesting. The character development is great so that you’re personally engaged with the character. It’s heartbreaking and the nurses are such heroes to be able to do what they did. Don’t miss this one!
I read a lot of WWII historical books but not many about WWI are available. This story is based on an actual person’s story and the history of the ships and of shipboard living and nursing are factual. This makes the book even more interesting. The character development is great so that you’re personally engaged with the character. It’s heartbreaking and the nurses are such heroes to be able to do what they did. Don’t miss this one!
May 26, 2022
The Sea Nurses follows Iris and Evie through WWI as nurses. They see some unimaginable sights and go through some heartbreaking times as so many families did during that period. The author has created some wonderful characters who I felt I could be friends with. I particularly loved the relationship between Iris and Evie as well as Iris and Miss Duchamp. Would recommend you ensure you have time to read this in one sitting unlike me!
September 11, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed the Sea Nurses. A story if 2 women Iris and Evie who meet at the start of WW1 and support each other through service on a hospital ship taking patients from the Aegean Sea back to Southampton. Iris a nurse/steward before the war working on with the White Star line on the transatlantic route and Evie a Scottish lass working as a herring girl in Yarmouth. Each have their dreams and the story weaves you through.
November 15, 2022
WW1 era fiction
Fantastic book about two you women who become nurses and serve during WW1. Evie and Iris are at different stages in their lives but become life long friends when they serve as nurses on a hospital ship in the war. Their ship is goes down after an attack and they both survive and continue to work together at a hospital in Southampton.
I adored this beautiful story of friendship and service.
Fantastic book about two you women who become nurses and serve during WW1. Evie and Iris are at different stages in their lives but become life long friends when they serve as nurses on a hospital ship in the war. Their ship is goes down after an attack and they both survive and continue to work together at a hospital in Southampton.
I adored this beautiful story of friendship and service.
February 10, 2023
Heartwarming story of Iris and Evie as they join the war effort by becoming nurses on hospital ships. They are both very different women, but their love of nursing knows no bounds. Working on a ship, with a red cross, it’s supposed to be safe passage.
Being a nurse on a hospital ship must have unique challenges, but hoping you won’t get fired upon by the enemy adds an extra stress.
Have your tissues read, as you read this beautiful story during the war.
Being a nurse on a hospital ship must have unique challenges, but hoping you won’t get fired upon by the enemy adds an extra stress.
Have your tissues read, as you read this beautiful story during the war.
June 19, 2023
An historical novel about nurses serving during the World War I. Two important characters, Iris and Evie, both from totally different backgrounds come together to work to save the soldiers that so gallantly served in the European conflict. Both nurses undergo much sadness in their lives, incredible conflict, but in the end have bonded forever through all that they have been through and the incredible stories that they share.
June 7, 2022
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Working on the HMHS Brittanic during World War I is challenging for the young nurses in this well written historical fiction novel. Iris and Evie care for wounded soldiers, with the ever present threat of German submarines below them. Recommended.
Working on the HMHS Brittanic during World War I is challenging for the young nurses in this well written historical fiction novel. Iris and Evie care for wounded soldiers, with the ever present threat of German submarines below them. Recommended.
June 9, 2022
#netgalley #theseanurses This is a beautiful historical fiction story, I love reading about hospitals and medical stories and this one is also set out on the sea. I was very impressed with how well written this novel is and how much I loved the characters. I will definitely be recommending this book. At times I even felt like I was there in the story. 5/5 stars
August 16, 2022
The other soldiers
Beautiful book that gives tribute to the other volunteer soldiers who risk they're lives and work endless hours giving comfort and medical attention to the injured,- ( the nurses) selflessly they gave and gave with no medals or accommodations expected. Be ready for some very sad parts.
Beautiful book that gives tribute to the other volunteer soldiers who risk they're lives and work endless hours giving comfort and medical attention to the injured,- ( the nurses) selflessly they gave and gave with no medals or accommodations expected. Be ready for some very sad parts.
April 15, 2024
So Good & heart breaking
Nurses do what must be done and their lives are put on hold to put the lives of others before their own. This beautiful story broke my heart and caused me to rally for the lives of those who willingly did what these characters did in this fictional story.
So Good!
Nurses do what must be done and their lives are put on hold to put the lives of others before their own. This beautiful story broke my heart and caused me to rally for the lives of those who willingly did what these characters did in this fictional story.
So Good!
July 6, 2022
My Musings
What an amazing story with endearing characters and a riveting plot. The writing is emotional and had me shedding tears on more than one occasion. I am so glad I found this one on Kindle Unlimited. Happy reading!
What an amazing story with endearing characters and a riveting plot. The writing is emotional and had me shedding tears on more than one occasion. I am so glad I found this one on Kindle Unlimited. Happy reading!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews