Title:- The Lieutenant’s Girl
Author:- Shari J Ryan
Date published:- will be published on June 22nd 2022
Publisher:- Bookouture
No. of pages:- 459 pages
Genre:- Historical Fiction
Rating:-
Plot:- 4.5/5
Writing:- 4.5/5
Overall rating:- 5/5
Pearl Harbor, 1941. War planes hurtle across the horizon, skimming the clouds. Gunpowder fills the air as the earth shatters. Everett’s hands cup my cheeks. “If I lose you, Elizabeth, please know that the time I’ve spent with you has been worth every second I’ve been alive.”
On the fateful day that sirens rend the air and warplanes fly over the harbor, Elizabeth and Everett had sneaked away to whisper sweet nothings to each other. As bombs rain down, they cling to each other, the ground shaking and smoke suffocating them. Miraculously, they survive—but their world is ripped apart. The beautiful island, where the turquoise ocean once lapped the golden sand, is destroyed.
Over a sweltering summer, the couple had fallen madly in love. Elizabeth was in awe of Everett’s sacrifices for the Air Force, and Everett adored strong-willed Elizabeth, a Jewish girl who defied her father’s wishes for a sheltered life by training to be a nurse.
But tragedy changes everything. Although they are hopelessly devoted to one another, they vow to serve their country. Elizabeth joins the Army Nurse Corps in Europe and Everett flies across the world chasing down the enemy. With a tearful goodbye, they promise to write.
When Everett’s letters stop arriving, heartbroken Elizabeth fears the worst. Will she ever see the love of her life again? And what chance does she have of surviving Europe, where Hitler’s tyrannical rule places her in grave danger?
Shari J Ryan has become one of my favorite historical fiction writers and this is one of the her yet best books!
The Lieutenant’s Girl focuses on an American Jewish woman named Elizabeth Salzburg who is training to be a nurse, living in Hawaii. She meets Everett who is a Hollywood superstar and who has recently joined the army. While their relationship slowly develops, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor changes everything. Elizabeth, feeling like a duty to serve her country enlists the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and moves to Europe, despite her Jewish background. Then Everett who is fighting in Europe goes missing and Elizabeth would do anything to find her true love.
All the World War II books I have read are based in Europe. Though towards the middle, the story then takes us to war zone Europe, it was kind of interesting to read about what really happened in Hawaii when the Japanese attacked in 1941. The author must have done loads of research and work to make the story as realistic as possible and considering that the author herself has a Jewish background, I would praise her for writing a story as realistic as possible. The story shifts back and forth between past and present, the present set in 2018 when Elizabeth was interviewed by her grandson in law. Overall, it was heartbreaking and emotional to read, though in the end, it was a happily ever after.
If you are looking for a romance set in WW II and a page turning historical fiction, then this book is one for you–worth five stars!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
Tropical Girl Reads 