The Wartime Nursery

Author(s): Lizzie Page

Location(s): Fincham

Genre(s): Fiction, Historical

Era(s): WW2

Norfolk, 1940. In the dark days of the war, Emmeline’s nursery is the only thing giving mothers hope. But how long can she keep that hope alive? An inspiring and emotional story of love and strength in the darkest of times.

With bombs raining down on London, young mother Emmeline Froud has no choice but to evacuate the city with her baby boy, leaving her husband behind. With her daughter Lydia already evacuated, she prays her family will be safe, even as split apart as they are.

Though Norfolk is lovely, village life isn’t an easy adjustment and Emmeline misses her home dearly. But when she befriends other mothers whose husbands are away at the front, Emmeline learns they are as determined to aid the war effort as she is, but need someone to care for their children. Emmeline battles for support to start a wartime nursery – the first of its kind.

After rolling up her sleeves and sprucing up the old community hall, Emmeline finally opens her doors and the children flood in. Emmeline loves their sweet little faces – poor, fatherless Billy, tiny Alice who needs to be held constantly, and Freddy, with his cherub curls and wide eyes.

But not everyone is happy with Emmeline’s nursery – many of the locals still believe a woman’s place is in the home. And just as Emmeline’s finally found the purpose she’s always dreamed of, everything she’s worked so hard to achieve is under threat…

Will Emmeline be able to save her nursery and stay in Norfolk with the children she loves so dearly? Or will she be forced to return to London and leave her new life – and true calling – behind…?

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