The Teacher Evacuees

by Rose Warner

Evacuated to the countryside, she realises there are more dangers than German bombs in wartime…

In summer 1939, Canadian-born teacher Victoria McKaye takes up a new position at a London school, only to shortly coordinate the evacuation to the countryside with standoffish spinster Beatrice and quiet, young Nell. Arriving in the village of Hazelbury, Victoria sorts out billets for her young charges and meets Louis Grainger, a naval officer.

As their friendship turns to something more, she notices some strange behaviours – including him meeting with foreign men in secret locales. When she confronts Louis, he admits he's working for the British government and recruits Victoria to help.

Drawn into a clandestine world, everything comes to a head when her work helps foil a Nazi plot. Yet the police have never heard of Louis… Can she trust the man she's grown to love?

A thrilling and compulsive Second World War saga for fans of Lesley Eames, Katie Flynn and Betty Walker.

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II, Womens Fiction, Family Sagas

320 pages, Paperback

Published September 25, 2025

About the author

Rose Warner, who also publishes as Jen Gilroy, writes historical women’s fiction and sweet contemporary romance—warm, feel-good stories to bring readers’ hearts home.

A Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® finalist and shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Joan Hessayon award, Amazon named her third book, 'Back Home at Firefly Lake,' a 'Best Book of the Month: Romance' in December 2017.

Canadian-British, Jen lived in England for many years and earned a doctorate (with a focus on British cultural studies and social history) from University College London.

Returning to where her Irish family roots run deep, she now lives with her husband, daughter and floppy-eared rescue hound in small-town Eastern Ontario, Canada.

When not writing, she enjoys reading, ice cream, ballet and paddling her purple kayak.

Reviews

[Karren Sandercock]

August 1939. Victoria McKaye is a Canadian teacher and she moves to England, her new job is at Park Royal School in London. Before she knows it she and her co-workers are coordinating the children's evacuation to a North Norfolk village called Hazelbury.

When Victoria, Beatrice Wentworth and Nell Potter arrive there is no accommodation provided for them and only the students, after a few uncomfortable nights, they board with the Grainger sisters, two elderly ladies who reside in nearby Hazelbury Manor.

Living in the country is a shock for them all, with no indoor plumbing and in some cases electricity, the children are homesick and others are not happy staying with their foster families and they have to overcome lots of issues, obstacles and big cows.

Louis Grainger is the great nephew of Adelaide and Henrietta and a naval officer, he and Victoria develop feelings for each other and however both have been engaged and hurt in the past and wonder if it's wise to fall in love during a war?

People are told to take note of any suspicious behaviour, Victoria thinks Louis is involved in something very hush hush, when she notices him meeting a stranger in the woods, she doesn’t know who she can trust and wonders if they have a traitor in the town?

The Teacher Evacuees by Rose Warner is a narrative that takes you back to just prior to the start and beginning of the Second World War, masses of children and teachers were evacuated to the English countryside, the nation was vulnerable to attack, everyone was worried about being invaded and unsure what the future held and you can sense this while reading the novel.

I really liked Victoria’s character, from taking her infant’s class on nature walks and her understanding children can learn not just in the class room, but in different places and environments. Victoria and her fellow teachers become firm friends, and time goes on they and the students become a part of the community and village.

I have met an evacuee, his descriptions of what happened to him were very similar to what Ms Warner pens, I’m looking forward to the second book in the series, and five stars from me and I highly recommend.

[Jess Keast]

I read a lot of WWII fiction and was pleasantly surprised that this was unique and a little different!
Thoroughly immersive and kept me guessing about who you could trust.
Can't wait to read more by this author!

[Sharon Rimmelzwaan]

The first book in a new series by Rose Warner, The Teacher Evacuees, introduces the reader to Victoria McKaye. She is a Canadian woman who has come to London to teach in a primary school. She gets more than she baragined for when she finds herself on a train to Norfolk with evacuees.

The trio of teachers find themselves sleeping on the Village Hall floor until they are given somewhere to stay. It's a truly different experience than Victoria expected, and she finds herself having suspicions that something weird is going on. Can she get to the bottom of it all?

Historical fiction or saga's always make me feel nostalgic, especially when they are set around the second world war. They always remind me of my grandparents, and that's a big part of why I am drawn to read those type of books.

The Teacher Evacuees was so well researched and well written. Rose Warner is a brand new author to me, and I wasn't sure if this book would tick all my boxes, but I have to say it actually did! The three teachers are all created so well. Victoria, Nell, and Beatrice are women who are unique, and I enjoyed seeing their budding friendship blossom.

The difficulties at the Home Front in the war show how women and children suffered in different ways. Victoria has more personal struggles than most people. She has to battle homesickness alongside the difficulties of being an evacuee. There is also a possibility of romance as she settles in the village, but it isn't all roses and moonlight as she discovers.

Rose Warner writes from the heart, and it's very clear. I could feel the resilience pouring out of the pages as I read. Any historical saga fans should add this book to their tbr list it is well worth reading!

[Elizabeth Lloyd]

I was attracted to this novel by its specific title. Having taught in primary schools for 35 years I have often wondered what it might have been like to have been evacuated with my pupils in wartime. This well researched story creates a believable village in north Norfolk where everyone knew each other and not all of the inhabitants would welcome the Londoners. No accommodation is provided for the three teachers at first, but they soon become integrated by joining the WI and putting on a pageant involving local children and evacuees.

As a Canadian, Victoria has to navigate the 1930s class system in England, and she misses her family home, but after a failed engagement she is glad to be independent, putting all her enthusiasm into the welfare of the infant children she teaches. But soon her life is disrupted by her encounters with naval officer Louis Grainger and the secrets they begin to share about the possibility of traitors living in Hazlebury.

This sensitive account shows how traumatic evacuation might have been for the children but also the opportunities of experiencing life in the country with caring teachers. Victoria gradually becomes close to the two other teachers sharing her task and their fears about the course of the war are vividly described.

I very much enjoyed the story of this brave young woman and I am looking forward to the publication of the other two books about her colleagues.

[Lis Angus]

Other books (both fiction and non-fiction)have focused on the lives of child evacuees in WWII, but the teachers who accompanied them are often overlooked. This novel, and the series that it launches, moves into this gap with well-paced imagination and flair.

The novel presents a fascinating picture of the challenges and problems the teachers had to face, and as the story unfolds it has all the tension of a suspenseful thriller wound around a trouble-filled romance. It’s also very much a wartime saga, accurately portraying details based on the author’s meticulous research into the period. Though the village and characters in the novel are fictional, the book depicts numerous events that actually happened, such as the Luftwaffe bombing the town of Cromer in July 1940. Many of the details of the teacher evacuees’ daily lives are drawn from real letters and audio interviews that the author reviewed at the Imperial War Museum in London.

Highly recommended.

[Joanne D'Arcy]

The start of a new historical saga series. It is the start of the Second World War and on the home front, children are being evacuated away from the cities. Alongside them is the teachers as well.

Victoria is fairly new to her role when she finds herself thrust into organising the movement and settling of the children. Alongside spinster Beatrice, and young Nell they find themselves accommodated in a large manor house. Victoria meets Louis Grainger a Naval Officer and a friendship blossoms into something more.

But Louis behaviour makes Victoria suspicious and it seems that there is more to this little village and his behaviour and she finds herself drawn into helping the war effort.

There is much packed into this book and had me hooked from the beginning. If you want to get involved with a new saga which involves different aspects of the home front that I have not read about before, then this is the book for you.

[Jacqui]

I really enjoyed this historical fiction story of teachers who were evacuated from London with their students. Canadian-born Victoria is one of those teachers who end up in the countryside, accompanied by a few of her fellow teachers and students. There she met handsome Louis Granger, the nephew of her hosts, two elderly ladies. He draws her into some spying intrigue as well, as part of her job teaching.

This is an interesting perspective of life on the home front of England. Victoria supported her students, bonded with her fellow teachers, and found some potential romance and spying intrigue with her host's nephew, who was doing war work in London. The author did a great job of combining an interesting perspective of life on the home front in England. I'm looking forward to more from this author.

Thanks to @canelo, @rachelsrandomresources, and the author for this arc

[Luisa Jones]

The Teacher Evacuees is an impeccably researched and at times thought provoking story, with a heart-warming conclusion to put a smile on the sternest face. I particularly liked the way the author gave us the perspective of a Canadian woman, Victoria. She is one of a group of three women teachers evacuated to rural Norfolk with their pupils in 1939, and it was interesting to follow her emotional journey as she deals with homesickness, living in a new community, work life, wartime dangers, and the possibility of a new romance.
The author definitely brings to life the difficulties and demands faced on the Home Front in WW2, especially by teachers. Any fan of WW2 sagas will enjoy this touching story.

[Jen]

This was so much more than I was expecting! When Canadian- born teacher Victoria takes up a teaching position in London the last thing she expects is to be evacuated with the children to Norfolk. After a tricky and eventful first few days Victoria, along with fellow teachers Beatrice and Nell, find themselves lodging with the Grainger sisters. This leads Victoria meeting Naval Officer Louis Grainger and there is an instant attraction. She then finds herself involved in helping the British Government by reporting back, via Louis, any strange goings on. What follows is a story that kept me totally engaged with plenty of twists and turns. Brilliantly thought out characters with a mixture of romance, drama, friendship, family and community this was a very enjoyable read.

[Sarah]

Fans of sweeping historical sagas should immediately purchase this absolutely delightful and heartwarming new read. You will not regret it! I’m always fascinated by stories from the British homefront during WWII, and the research that went into this is so detailed that I felt like I was watching a movie. If you read and loved The War That Saved My Life, this will be right up your alley as it’s the story of the teachers who evacuated London with their students. The three teachers at first strangers become like family, as well as the students and townsfolk (my favorite trope “found family!”). There’s mystery, heartbreak and romance all told with fabulous storytelling. This was a five star read!

[Ebony]

This was a cosy, historical read that made me consider the many sacrifices of women during the war- which was an unexpected, but pleasant, outcome. The subtle acknowledgment of English class issues being persistent throughout the wars was also an appreciated touch.

The plot risks being predictable, and yet I found there were many additions that kept the pace moving along nicely. It helps that Louis is a dreamboat!

Overall, I feel incredibly satisfied, and I look forward to hopefully hearing more of Nell’s backstory in future books. It was only hinted at within Victoria’s story, so I hope it gets more attention in the future:)

[Booklover BEV]

Will her move to the countryside bring hardship, adventure or love.
WW2 book one.
Canadian born teacher Victoria McKaye after moving to London teaching finds herself evacuated to the Norfolk village of Hazelbury.
Catching good looking naval officer Louis Grainger is this love?
Teaching is war work looking after all the children keeping them safe and loved as they are missing home.
This book touches the heart as well as been very informative.
As we come to the ending I am looking forward to book two and Victoria and Louis in their future together.
Beautiful and very touching.

[Leanne]

Victoria is a teacher who has been evacuated to the countryside along with her pupils and two fellow teachers. There she meets naval officer Louis and their is a instant attraction but what is Louis hiding? Between wartime bombings, new love and caring for the children Victoria is kept busy. I devoured this heartwarming and thrilling book. I was captivated from the beginning to the very end. The secret war work had me feeling like I was sitting on eggshells and the blossoming romance had my heart soaring. I am happy that there is still more to come in future books.

[Leona]

The Teacher Evacuees is a wonderful and informative read that completely hooked me from the very beginning. Historical Fiction Sagas are one of my favourite genres so as soon as I read the blurb about this book I just knew I had to read it. One of the things that piqued my interest was this was a book based on the teachers who helped the young evacuees who have been sent to live in country villages to keep them safe. A warm hearted but also a thought provoking read with an air of mystery in places. I loved it and look forward to reading the second book in the series.

[Pat Langhelt]

I was introduced to this book when my newsletter dropped into my inbox
I was very pleased to find it on my-elibrary and downloaded it straight away. I love all stories set in WW2 and this did not disappoint look forward to the next installment .