The year is 1940, set in London, Somerset and Norfolk, Britain is now at war.
The research is so carefully written in this book that make's a fantastic read throughout the chapters.
Heart-warming and unputdownable.
She did whatever it takes to save the children, while mothers work the men's jobs evacuation into the countryside of Somerset and Norfolk, this is Emmeline and her nursey and her daughter Lydia's story both separated keeping in touch only by letters.
I just loved this book that is part two in the Wartime Evacuees series, a superb novel, so don't forget to have plenty of tissues on hand.
So emotional, so well written, such a beautiful book to curl up with.

A well done and emotional tale of the WWII Homefront- the nurseries meant to keep the children of England safe. You'll feel for Evangeline and the others. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of historical fiction.

I adore historical fiction stories that share what life was about for those left at home in World War 2. I take what I learn from the books and finally get to talk to my mom about the war. Until recently she refused, but with the little I share she shares a lot more.

The Wartime Nursery was a slow building story. It reminded me that war didn't take place in 350 pages but over a period years. I didn't know that mothers and children were evacuated together until now. If it wasn't for stories like this I would not begin to fathom how difficult it was for them. I never thought about the challenges they would face when they returned home. Reading The Wartime Nursery with help the reader understand.

Emmeline is one those people that took advantage of the evacuations. Her daughter, Lydia, had already been sent to Somerset. Thankfully the author doesn't brush her aside. Lydia stirs up a lot of drama that kept me entertained for hours.

Emmeline and her son, Matthew end up in Norfolk. It is an awkward situation living with strangers, especially when the man of the house is a Minister of Parliment. Emmeline finds herself wandering around lost and out of place. She is not alone. When she realizes that there is a need for a nursery she pulls out all of the stops, including leaning on the man that opened his home to her to get it started.

The Wartime Nursery isn't a simple story. I found myself shocked over what occured on more than one occasion. The twists were mind blowing. At times I found myself in tears. Like in the war, good people died and others had to learn to carry on. The drama and the hope of romance had me excited to read chapter after chapter.

I’ve loved every book written by this talented author. She has a special way of managing to combine humour with tremendous pathos. Her characters are so real and she’s a specialist at conveying the lives of ordinary people.
I giggled at the antics of the children in the nursery: very “Joyce Grenfell”:
“Maurice fell off the picnic table in the garden (what was he doing there?)”; “Stanley Burton had pulled up a stool and found the chocolate iron tablets.”; “Eric had a bad night, Bernard had not done a number two for three days…” etc

At the same time, Page makes me cry. The book is set during World War Two and with that comes tragedy and enormous sadness. The main character, Emmeline, is a woman I would love to meet in real life (although, her depiction is so real that she really does exist for me). Evacuated with her son, Matthew and other Londoners to the Norfolk countryside, she is lost. Her daughter, Lydia (another fascinating personality and a foil to Emmeline’s) is evacuated elsewhere: to Bumble Cottage in Somerset and a life that fills the young girl with high aspirations, bringing another theme to the story. Daughter and mother are very different and that allowed for the story to go in another direction. Emmeline is torn as a mother, would prefer to be near her daughter, but Lydia is happier where she is. She is not as likeable as Emmeline but nevertheless a fully-drawn character.
The war changes people’s lives in so many ways. For Emmeline, “Here was the war, like a dead mouse dragged to her feet by a proud cat.” She is lost, her days without much purpose: “She had filled another day with fresh air and nonsense.” Until, that is, she opens up a nursery and then her life changes. She left her husband, Neville, behind in London and she discovers herself. This aspect of women’s emancipation is cleverly done and I was very interested in the details and politics of the time. Lots of research has been done and threaded in seamlessly.
“The war was sweeping away the old social frameworks.” through fighting to open the nursery, Emmeline’s life is suddenly very different and I loved the way she developed and became her own person. She is courageous, feisty and thoroughly identifiable. I wanted to hug her.
It’s an important book, more complicated than appears at first. Loved it. Five stars for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Lizzie Page's never disappoint! This is the 2nd in this series but it could be read out of order.
Since I've read the 1st in this series, I knew the background on what happened with Valerie and her mom so it was good to read about Lydia's and her mom's lives as evacuees. I'm looking forward to any future books in this series or really, anything else the author publishes.

A 100% buy-today-read-tonight delight.
Thanks to a great author we have warmth, wisdom and emotional intelligence, this book was a huge pleasure to read! A fabulous, really enjoyable read.

I particularly love historical fiction and this does not disappoint..it heartwarming and heartbreaking all at same time.

This book gives a really interesting insight into how wartime nurseries were started and the difficulties that entailed. It begins with the Hardman, Salt and Froud families and the lead up to the evacuation of children to the country. The daughters from each family Valerie, Francine and Lydia were friends, would this last once they went to different host mothers?

I found the details about nurseries fascinating. The will they/won’t they relationship with Emmeline and Lawrence kept me reading.
I’ve got to say that I found Lydia to be shallow, irritating and in the next turn childlike, had it been my own book I’d have given up for that reason alone.
Character I liked most was Dot, down to earth. Marjorie stuck a chord, just someone needing a helping hand.

I’ll be interested to see what the third book in the series is about.

THE WARTIME NURSERY is the second novel in the Wartime Evacuees series by LIZZIE BRIGHT. The story starts in 1940 with the wartime evacuations from London, showing the effects this had on families and individuals. The characters are interesting and the author describes their emotions very well, as families are divided and relationships are strained……
Emmeline Froud, after sending her daughter Lydia to Mrs Harding at Bumble Cottage in Somerset ends up at the Old Rectory in Fincham with her little son Matthew, living with the charming Mr Davenport, MP, and his wife. To alleviate their boredom, and with the support of Mt Davenport, Emmeline and some of the evacuee mothers start a nursery, largely so that women could work to help the war effort, but also to stop women with small children far from their homes from getting desperate……
There is heartache, tragedy, friendship, love and romance as we see the famous British fortitude enacted by the characters as they make the best of things…..
I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling your read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

As all books by Lizzie Page, this novel is s delightful read! The characters are likeable, the storyline is heartwarming and the plot compelling. Not only it is very pleasant to read, it is also interesting. I learned about how nurseries were first organised. The evacuation of children away from cities as well as the emotional turmoil experienced through WWII by the families are obviously a big part of the novel. A touch of romance, of course, and tragedies are also themes. Nevertheless, quite a bit of witty comments lighten up the storyline. I really enjoyed the novel!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.