The Poppy Field
by
Deborah Carr
So today I am on the blog tour for this fantastic read from Deborah Carr that will have you gripped from Start to finish and also have you reaching for the tissues.
Book description
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.
Young nurse, Gemma, is struggling with the traumas she has witnessed through her job in the NHS. Needing to escape from it all, Gemma agrees to help renovate a rundown farmhouse in Doullens, France, a town near the Somme. There, in a boarded-up cupboard, wrapped in old newspapers, is a tin that reveals the secret letters and heartache of Alice Le Breton, a young volunteer nurse who worked in a casualty clearing station near the front line.
Set in the present day and during the horrifying years of the war, both woman discover deep down the strength and courage to carry on in even the most difficult of times. Through Alice’s words and her unfailing love for her sweetheart at the front, Gemma learns to truly live again.
This is a beautifully written epic historical novel that will take your breath away.
Young nurse, Gemma, is struggling with the traumas she has witnessed through her job in the NHS. Needing to escape from it all, Gemma agrees to help renovate a rundown farmhouse in Doullens, France, a town near the Somme. There, in a boarded-up cupboard, wrapped in old newspapers, is a tin that reveals the secret letters and heartache of Alice Le Breton, a young volunteer nurse who worked in a casualty clearing station near the front line.
Set in the present day and during the horrifying years of the war, both woman discover deep down the strength and courage to carry on in even the most difficult of times. Through Alice’s words and her unfailing love for her sweetheart at the front, Gemma learns to truly live again.
This is a beautifully written epic historical novel that will take your breath away.
My Review
This books did exactly as the description says and it took my breath away. This is an amazing read of two different stories that come together as one fantastic book. The two stories are so well entwined with each other that you simple can't stop reading to find out what happens next.
The story of Gemma is set in the modern time. She has left her home and job, as a nurse in Brighton and has moved into a rundown farmhouse in the French village Doullens that her father has asked her to oversee the renovations. Gemma has needed a break form her job after the fall out of her relationship and has found the farmhouse an ideal retreat. it is here while doing the renovations that she meets Tom who who helps her out with the renovations. Tom is an ex service man who has plenty of secrets he would like to keep hidden from his past. With him and Gemma working so well together a relationship of sorts is formed and soon they are both opening up with each other. it is white they are doing the work on the farmhouse that they find some mysterious letters from many years ago. it is while reading these letters that Gemma finds out about Alice.
The story of Alice is set in France during the First World War. Alice is a volunteer nurse looking after the wounded soldiers that are brought in from the front line. She helps nurse them back to health under the watchful eye of a very strict matron. It is also here that she falls in love with Ed while he is being treated. The letters that Gemma is reading are the letters that Alice and Ed sent each other during the war. They describe all that is happening where Alice is posted and tell the story of the love they share.
The horrors that Alice would have seen here are so very well described and you feel all of the emotions that she is living with. I felt that Alice was so brave to leave her home in Jersey and volunteer to do what she did. I feel that Gemma is also very brave in realising she needs a break form her job and trying to find out what she really needs out of life.
I loved how the stories ran so well alongside each other and complimented each other. You can easily see the similarities in Alice and Gemma and just how much they would've had in common.
I adored this book and I'm sure you will too.
Purchase Links
Author Bio
Deborah Carr lives on the island of Jersey in the Channel Islands with her husband, two children and three rescue dogs. She became interested in books set in WW1 when researching her great-grandfather's time as a cavalryman in the 17th 21st Lancers.
She is part of ‘The Blonde Plotters’ writing group and was Deputy Editor on the online review site, Novelicious.com for seven years. Her debut historical romance, Broken Faces, is set in WW1 and was runner-up in the 2012 Good Housekeeping Novel Writing Competition and given a 'special commendation' in the Harry Bowling Prize that year. The Poppy Field is her second historical novel.
She is part of ‘The Blonde Plotters’ writing group and was Deputy Editor on the online review site, Novelicious.com for seven years. Her debut historical romance, Broken Faces, is set in WW1 and was runner-up in the 2012 Good Housekeeping Novel Writing Competition and given a 'special commendation' in the Harry Bowling Prize that year. The Poppy Field is her second historical novel.
Social Media
Website https://www.deborahcarr.org/
Twitter https://twitter.com/DebsCarr
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/deborahcarr/
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.
Happy reading.
1 comment:
Thank you for taking part in the blog tour for The Poppy Field and for your amazing review, I'm thrilled you enjoyed my book. Debs
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