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From three bestselling authors comes an interwoven tale of a trio of World War II nurses in the Pacific who wage their own battle for freedom and survival. The Philippines, 1941. When US Navy nurse Eleanor Lindstrom, US Army nurse Penny Franklin, and Filipina nurse Lita Capel forge a friendship at the Army Navy Club in Manila, they believe they're living a paradise assignment. All three are seeking a way to escape their pasts, but soon the beauty and promise of their surroundings give way to the heavy mantle of war. Caught in the crosshairs of a fight between the US military and the Japanese Imperial Army for control of the Philippine islands, the nurses are forced to serve under combat conditions and, ultimately, endure captivity as the first female prisoners of the Second World War. As their resiliency is tested in the face of squalid living arrangements, food shortages, and the enemy's blatant disregard for the articles of the Geneva Convention, they strive to keep their hope-and their fellow inmates-alive, though not without great cost. In this sweeping story based on the true experiences of nurses dubbed "the Angels of Bataan," three women shift in and out of each other's lives through the darkest days of the war, buoyed by their unwavering friendship and distant dreams of liberation.… (more)
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A story by any one of these writers would be an amazing read. Put the three of them together and you have an unforgettable and spectacular powerful story. The stories of the three nurses flowed easily from one to the other without a single hiccup. The writing is descriptive without being flowery and is even rather cinematic in its delivery. One could feel the excessively warm humidity of the tropical climate, hear the guns blazing in the not so distant marshes and smell the rank odors of injured soldiers and civilians as well as rotting food and flesh. The authors garnered from the reader tremendous sympathy as the nurses' rations in captivity were continuously reduced so as not to kill them off too quickly. War brought them to the brink. Yet hope carried them through. For fans of historical fiction, I highly recommend this story.
I am grateful to Harper Muse publishing for having provided a complimentary e-copy of this book. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperMuse for this egalley in exchange for a fair review. Pub Date 10/18/22
Thank you NetGalley and HarperMuse for this egalley in exchange for a fair review. Pub Date 10/18/22
Eleanor is a U.S. Navy nurse, Penny is a U.S Army nurse and Lita is a Filipina nurse. After their first meeting, they make plans to meet once a month for drinks. Their plans only last for few months before the war starts and their duties as nurses puts them right into the midst of battle. When the Japanese land, the nurses become prisoners of war - the first female POWs of the war. What they had to endure during their time in captivity was unbelievable. Their resolve was tested daily with mass casualties, squalid living arrangements, food shortages, and the enemy’s blatant disregard for the articles of the Geneva Convention. The women worked hard to keep their hope live despite what they were going though and to nurse the injured as best they could without needed medical supplies. As they are moved to different areas and separated, they hope and pray to see each other again and for the ultimate end to the war.
After the war, the nurses who were held prisoners of war become known as the Angels of Bataan for their dedication and hard work to treat the wounded in often squalid and dangerous situations. It's a different look at the war through the eyes of the nurses that were there. This book is based on real US nurses who were held by the Japanese during World War II. There hasn't been a lot written about them because when the women returned home, they were forced to sign an agreement with the US government that they wouldn't talk about their war experiences so most of their stories were kept hidden from the public.
This intense and well researched novel was written by three popular authors of World War II fiction. There was no way to tell who wrote what parts as the entire novel fit together seamlessly as if it had been written by only one author. This is a war story and in parts it is difficult to read, especially the treatment of the nurses by their captors but despite this, the prevailing theme is one of friendship and how it can overcome even the worst trauma and provide hope even during the darkest times.
Sally
Meanwhile, because of Sally’s name being in the media, a renewed search is on for the man who was responsible for the chaos of her life. Sally becomes afraid her will find out where she lives. Some men do find her, but it’s not who you would think.
The ending of the story was so creepy, but appropriate. And, clever Liz Nugent just might have left an ending that needs a sequel. I loved the book and noticed I have an unread book by Nugent sitting on the shelf, so I’m anxious to read that one soon!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books, Scout Press for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am pleased to offer my honest review and recommend this to other readers who enjoy mystery/thriller and crime novels.