A USA TODAY BESTSELLER“An emotional and heartfelt tale of love and courage.” —Chanel Cleeton, bestselling author of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick Next Year in HavanaNovember, 1941. She’s never even seen the ocean before, but Eva Cassidy has her reasons for making the crossing to Hawaii, and they run a lot deeper than escaping a harsh Michigan winter. Newly enlisted as an Army Corps nurse, … making the crossing to Hawaii, and they run a lot deeper than escaping a harsh Michigan winter. Newly enlisted as an Army Corps nurse, Eva is stunned by the splendor she experiences aboard the steamship SS Lurline; even more so by Lt. Clark Spencer, a man she is drawn to but who clearly has secrets of his own. But Eva’s past—and the future she’s trying to create—means that she’s not free to follow her heart. Clark is a navy intelligence officer, and he warns her that the United States won’t be able to hold off joining the war for long, but nothing can prepare them for the surprise attack that will change the world they know.
In the wake of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Eva and her fellow nurses band together for the immense duty of keeping the American wounded alive. And the danger that finds Eva threatens everything she holds dear. Amid the chaos and heartbreak, Eva will have to decide whom to trust and how far she will go to protect those she loves.
Set in the vibrant tropical surroundings of the Pacific, The Lieutenant’s Nurse is an evocative, emotional WWII story of love, friendship and the resilient spirit of the heroic nurses of Pearl Harbor.
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The Lieutenant’s Nurse illuminates the invasion of Pearl Harbor with a riveting drama told from a unique perspective. Sara Ackerman brings a time and place to vivid life, putting a human and heroic face on events that changed history. I savored every page!
With the wit and richness of a Beatriz Williams novel, The Lieutenant’s Nurse weaves a tale of love and courage. Bittersweet and suspenseful, it offers readers a firsthand, female perspective of the harrowing days surrounding Pearl Harbor, honoring both the complexities of war and resilience of the human spirit.
A fantastic addition to the WWII historical fiction genre. This tackles the war on American soil – the attack on Pearl Harbor, specifically – and gives you suspense, history, mystery and romance all at once. Great for book clubs and all ages to read.
This novel takes place in 1941 when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and started their war with the United States. Along with the story, there are copies of messages that were sent from Japan to their navy and the pilots before the attack started which made the story more realistic. Over 2400 people were killed when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This number includes the US military, the Japanese pilots, the nurses and the civilians. There were less than 100 nurses working the hospital at Pearl Harbor when the attack happened and they were totally overwhelmed with the number of causalities that were brought to the hospital. Hawaii had been considered one of the easiest and most beautiful places to work as a nurse but after the attack, it was no longer viewed that way.
Eva had never even seen the ocean when her ship left California to head to Hawaii where she was assigned as an Army nurse. She was running away from her home in Michigan and there were more reasons than just to avoid another bad Michigan winter. A friend of her father’s who was in the military was waiting for her in Hawaii and even though she thought she loved him, she became very close to Clark, a Navy intelligence officer that she meets on the ship. When Eva arrives at the hospital, she immediately bonds with the other nurses. It is this bond of sisterhood that holds them all together in the days following the attack when they are get so many wounded people to care for. And the danger that finds her threatens everything she holds dear. Amid the chaos and heartbreak, Eva will have to decide who to trust and how far she will go to protect those she loves.
I found it refreshing to read a war book with the nurses being such an important part of the story. They have been ignored in the history books for way too long. Along with the historical part of the story there is a beautiful love story between Eva and Clark that helped show there is hope for the future even in the midst of war.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
With the backdrop of Pearl Harbor on the fateful day of December 7, 1941, this book is fabulous as the lives of the two main characters make you feel like you’re actually there experiencing everything first hand. Eva Cassidy left her home in Michigan after she was wrongly accused of the death of a patient in the operating room. She changed her name was was looking for a new start. Lt. Clark Spencer met her on the ship she was taking to Hawaii. Their friendship grew from those days on the ship, and drew Eva into the inner workings of the war. I had a hard time putting this book down! It did start out a bit slowly while the characters were being developed, but when it got into the meat of the story, it was absolutely fabulous! If you like historical fiction, be sure to read this book!
Set against the backdrop of the attack on Pearl Harbor, The Lieutenant’s Nurse is an emotional and heartfelt tale of love and courage. Depicting a dramatic period in history, Ackerman’s richly detailed and evocative writing transports the reader, bringing Hawaii to life.
Favorite Quotes:
Eva had been shown a Pro-kit— sulfa ointment, directions and a soaped-up cloth— and told to hand them out to every soldier who left the hospital. A Good Soldier Will Not Get Venereal Disease was stamped across the front.
Murmurs erupted and the room cleared faster than if someone had let loose a bagful of snakes.
He felt as though he were watching a war movie, his eyes unable to believe what he saw. He kept thinking about that first Zero and how close it had been. The bastard had actually waved. That face, he would never forget.
I swear to you, that morgue right there is enough to turn anyone against a war. Even the most hardened general. You ask me, it ought to be required visiting for those folks.
My Review:
This was an engaging and poignantly written tale which combined fact and fiction, although, there were more surprising factual events than I was ever aware of or would have expected. The premise was unique and entertaining, with writing that squeezed my heart while continually plucking at my curiosity. I enjoyed the well-crafted mystery as well as the interplays between characters as much as I appreciated the historical significance of the story. Ms. Ackerman’s characters were complicated, smart, disarmingly endearing, and well fleshed out. Her scenes were lushly described and well textured to involve and employ all the senses. And despite the traumatic backdrop of the carnage of war, the emotional tone was generally well balanced with surprising twists and unexpected bursts of wit tucked in.
I live in Hawaii and though I wasn’t around during the attack on Pearl Harbor, I am old but not that old, it was several levels beyond cool to read a book that mentioned quintessential local landmarks that were familiar and special to me. Some are no longer standing such as the iconic Dole Cannery water tower, which was shaped and painted like a pineapple; where else in the world would you ever see one of those? Having trod many of the same steps, it was supremely pleasing to be able to read of the locales they frequented and know exactly where they were and what it looked like. I’ve also sucked back drinks at sunset at the illustrious Royal Hawaiian Hotel, which is still lovely and still pink. And I could hear the crunch and taste the pleasant crispness as the nurses snacked on Saloon Pilot crackers, which are the absolute best and still baked fresh in Honolulu. Reading that scene had me cheating on my diet while digging my own tin out of the pantry and grabbing the guava jelly for an afternoon treat. That extra pound on the scale tomorrow will be blamed on Sara Ackerman’s charismatic storytelling.
Sara Ackerman, Author of “The Lieutenant’s Nurse” has written an intense, intriguing, captivating, and suspenseful novel. The Genres for this Novel are Fiction and Historical Fiction with the Author’s Interpretation. The time-line for this story is approximately 1941 and after. The story goes to the past when it pertains to the novels or characters in the story. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated.
Eva Cassidy is a nurse that has some deep secrets and decides to leave Michigan and work as an Army Corps Nurse, in Hawaii. On the ship , Eva meets some interesting characters. Eva is attracted to Lt. Clark Spencer, who seem to harbor some deep dark secrets of his own. On the ship is talk of war with Germany, and talk of what happens when talks break down with the Japanese.
Once Eva lands, she meets other women that are nurses. The beauty of Hawaii is described by the Author. There seems to be tension, and warnings, in the background. When the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, there is great distraction, but Eva and the other nurses are courageous, heroic, and go above and beyond to tend to the men who have been severely hurt. This is such a turbulent time in history, and devastating and heartbreaking.
I appreciate the author discussing important topics such as the sisterhood the nurses have, keeping up the morale of the soldiers, and assisting in so many ways. This is a story of war, love, hope and faith. I highly recommend this novel for those readers who enjoy Historical Fiction during World War Two. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
The plot held interest and the realistic elements of the Second World War added to the suspense and had me reading well into the night.
A very interesting point of view on the attack on Pearl Harbor. It seems as though a civilian ship picked up Japanese ship radio traffic days before the attack and no one would heed the warning. Very realistic description of what it was like on the ground during the attack. Realistic love story. Great story line,great book.
Informative about beginning of WW11 in the Pacific.
Way to simplistic.
Was a great book with a lot of history and a lot to think about the history you are taught and how reliable it is.
DNF at 15%
5 Stars
Have added Ackerman to my list of favorite authors…love her writing. Having read so many WWII novels, I thought I knew everything there was to know, yet in this novel I learned about something new: about one of the theories that the US deliberately and strategically provoked Japan into attacking Pearl Harbor. A compelling and enthralling read expounding the importance of nurses and family with a bit of romance thrown in. Ackerman brilliantly weaves historical fact with fiction for a book the reader can’t put down.
Historical fiction from WWII is one of my favorite genres! While so many of the books I read are set in Europe, this was a nice change of setting. The back story of the main character gave an interesting twist as well.
I recently visited Pearl Harbor. Enjoyed the book.
Loved the setting.
I lost a night of sleep because I couldn’t put it down . I think that says it all. Excellent book!