Pearl Harbor was a Grand Adventure Before December 7, 1941
As I sit in quarantine, I’m thankful for my Kindle and all the great books I’ve downloaded to read and listen to during this frightening time. I chose The Girls of Pearl Harbor for two reasons. First, my uncle was stationed there during WWII. And second, I’ve heard numerous tales from the men who fought there. I have never heard from the courageous women of WWII who worked behind the scenes/ They brought as many of our boys home as possible, while risking their lives.
I loved listening to the Audible version of this book. The narrator was superb, and the story flowed from the minute Grace, Poppy, and April joined the U.S. Army Nurse Corps to when the Army dispatched them to Hawaii. The party atmosphere reminded me of the parties we had on campus in college. Everything about the setting was magical until the first wave of Japanese planes swooped down over the fields and buildings to destroy the Americans’ ability to remain outside the conflict.
The book vividly describes the horrors of wartime and the heroic actions of the doctors and nurses who attended to our soldiers: Grace, April, and their new friend. Eva, are eventually moved to the battlegrounds of northern Africa, where the need is tremendous. Old and new friends discover the critical need to work together for the safety and well-being of everyone.
I don’t want to give anything away, but I urge any of you who had a father, brother, friend, or uncle who fought in this war to pick up this book. 5 Stars for the Audible Version.
Meet the Courageous Women of WWII on the Front Lines
About the Book
When Grace, April, and Poppy join the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, they see it as little more than an adventure; one made all the better by their first station: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Joined at the hip, idealistic Grace, exuberant Poppy, and brave but haunted April frolic in the sun, attending parties, flirting with the handsome soldiers, and becoming fast friends with seasoned nurse Eva. Like the Hawaiian sun, their future seems warm and bright—until the infamous morning of December 7.
Within just a few horrifying hours, their sparkling hopes turn to black rubble and ash. Now embroiled in a war they could never have imagined, they must decide what truly matters to them and face grief as they never have before. Death may await them—but so do hope and purpose. Amid the carnage, can they find happiness and learn to fight not just for their country’s honor but for themselves?
More, now than ever, we need to remember the courageous women of WWII. They guide us in our approach to how we will face the coronavirus threat throughout the world today.
What Others are Saying:
“The story touches on the inequality of nurses to doctors and the relationship of sisters.”
“The settings are beautifully described, and the emotions depicted are raw and real, making it feel like the reader is there in the thick of it with the other nurses.”
“This is one of the best historical novels I have read about everyday people who accomplished extraordinary things in awful working and living conditions in Pearl Harbor and Africa during the war.”
“I read lots of historical fiction, and this book is as well researched as any I have read.”
About the Author
Soraya Lane graduated with a law degree before realizing that law wasn’t the career for her and that her future was in writing. She is the author of historical and contemporary women’s fiction, and her novel Wives of War was an Amazon Charts bestseller.
Soraya lives on a small farm in her native New Zealand with her husband, their two young sons, and a collection of four-legged friends. When she’s not writing, she loves to be outside playing make-believe with her children or snuggled up inside reading.
Be sure to check out my review of Hearts of Resistance.
Connect with the Author, Soraya M. Lane
Amazon Author Page
Website