When the World Fell Silent: A gripping and emotional historical fiction novel inspired by real events

A story of loss, hope and redemption against impossible odds...

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'If you've read The Women by Kristin Hannah I recommend you read this one!!!!'

The Globe & Mail Bestseller

'Alward tells this story of the wounded survivors and the people who cared for them with affecting grace' Toronto Star

1917. Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Nora Crowell wants more than her sister's life as a wife and mother. As WWI rages across the Atlantic, she becomes a lieutenant in the Canadian Army Nursing Corps. But trouble is looming and it won't be long before the truth comes to light.

Having lost her beloved husband in the trenches and with no-one else to turn to, Charlotte Campbell now lives with his haughty relations who treat her like the help. It is baby Aileen, the joy and light of her life, who spurs her to dream of a better life.

When tragedy strikes in Halifax Harbour, nothing for these two women will ever be the same again. Their paths will cross in the most unexpected way, trailing both heartbreak and joy in its wake...

Praise for Donna Jones Alward:

'A beautiful, meticulously researched story that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.' USA Today bestseller, Genevieve Graham

'A triumphant, unforgettable tale of sacrifice, hope, and second chances ... with a twist that will have readers holding their breath' Renee Ryan, author of The Secret Society of Salzburg

'Readers of historical fiction, don't miss this one!' USA Today bestseller, Andie Newton

'A winning and memorable tale that boasts a perfectly-judged grasp of historical detail, wonderfully nuanced characters, and a narrative arc that never falters' USA Today bestseller, Jennifer Robson

'A fascinating, heartbreaking, and heartwarming story' USA Today bestseller, Glynis Peters

'A rare novel that is both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Prepare to fall in love' Soraya M. Lane, bestselling author

'Meticulously researched and full of atmospheric period details that will take your breath away' Julianne MacLean, bestselling author

'Alward handles the aftermath of a Canadian tragedy with sensitivity, skill, brilliant writing' Lecia Cornwall, author of That Summer in Berlin

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Published Aug 1, 2024

384 pages

Average rating: 8.4

25 RATINGS

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LVoskan

Feb 21, 2025

8/10 stars

Apparently I like historical fiction - which is surprising because I don't love history. This book was sweet and I learned a lot about Cananda and WWI. The horrors of war are unimaginable. Thank goodness for our first responders. PTSD is so very real, and I am glad that we live in a time that acknowledges it.

jenlynerickson

Jan 28, 2025

10/10 stars

Donna Jones Alward’s When the World Fell Silent “recounts a pivotal event in Canada's history–the largest man-made explosion until 1945's bombing of Japan and a mass casualty event.” “I’d just straightened when the world fell silent, then a rumble shuddered beneath my feet and a terrible force pressed on my body, the blunt punch of it delivering me into blackness…For the first time, the phrase ‘we're at war’ took on a real, true meaning, and I felt it from my heart right down to my toes. It was no longer some nebulous, far-away idea. It was right here in Halifax, the little Canadian city with the big port, that had for hundreds of years survived battles between the French and English. And yet today, in a matter of a few seconds, the city and its people were shattered. If I weren't in the middle of it, I wouldn't believe it was possible.” In the beginning of the story, we meet Nora, an independent woman “who bucks tradition in favour of a career. Her choices–and the explosion–lead to some big life changes. Charlotte, on the other hand, begins the story entrenched in domestic life and then must find work.” When her daughter goes missing in the explosion, Charlotte Campbell discovers an advertisement for an orphan but when her family is found and the truth comes to light, Charlotte is conflicted: should she do the right thing and return her to the arms of her family or should she take her adopted daughter and run? “She was no villain; she was “a woman who had simply been in pain and desperate. Another mother who had lost her child.” The two women’s lives coalesce into a single moment: “the victories, the losses, the struggles, and the happy times…Nora and Charlotte’s stories revolve around one central idea…that life was fleeting. And family is everything.” Most of all, this is a story about sisters: the sister cities of Halifax and Boston, "the sisters we choose, the sisters we lose, and the ones we treasure every day.” Donna Jones Alward’s When the World Fell Silent is a triumph!

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When the World Fell Silent: A gripping and emotional historical fiction novel for 2024 you don’t want to miss

When the World Fell Silent

When the World Fell Silent: A gripping and emotional historical fiction novel inspired by real events