Underwhelming. I had high hopes for this one but just didn’t click with it. The characters were flat, the plot was predictable, and there’s nothing about it to set it apart from any other WWII novel out there. My favorite part was reading the Author’s Note at the end and discovering that this novel was written as a kind of What If story that had happened to her grandmother. Love the real life connection. Didn’t love the execution.

Eva is used to lakes but the ones in San Francisco had salt in the air and dead fish. Eva has graduated nursing school. She has joined the army nurse corps and is going to hawaii.Eva has a stylish sister who had polio and is now paralyzed. many on the ship are seasick.There is talk of war and the japenes.As a nurse in the army eva is not allowed to wed. She has a serious boyfriend named Billy.I thought some parts were slow and boring. I loved Eva and how she spoke and carried herself

The Lieutenant’s Nurse marks my first experience with Sara Ackerman’s work and while I struggled with a few scenes, I feel comfortable recommending it those with an appreciation for light and/or romantic war era fiction.

I found Eva’s backstory fun to read and I liked how her experiences and secrets came into play over the course of the story. I also liked how Ackerman used transmitted messages to keep her audience apprised of the larger conflict and appreciate how the tactic kept Clark relevant throughout the narrative by drawing attention to his role and responsibilities as an intelligence officer.

Having said that, I have to admit I struggled with how much the novel resembled Pearl Harbor (2001). It started when I realized the novel, which follows a nurse name Evelyn, is a love triangle set against the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor but it settled hard in the scene that unfolded on Tripler Hospital’s lawn.

- A Japanese doctor being verbally accosted by the wounded as Evelyn writes Ms and Ts and victims in lipstick… (re: 2:01:09 in the film)
- Evelyn telling the wounded they’ll be fine knowing it’s a lie… (re: 2:01:20 in the film)
- Grace’s falling prey to fear as Evelyn reminds her of her duties might as well have been Sandra (played by Jennifer Garner) losing it as Evelyn (played by Kate Beckinsale) tells her to get back to work… (re: 2:01:55 in the film)

The fact that Ackerman tempers the intensity of attack with the survival of a dog didn’t help matters (re: 2:03:30 in the film) and while I acknowledge the plausibility of the content, I really struggled with how neatly they aligned to Michael Bay’s vision.

Ackerman's research regarding the attack is illustrated throughout the novel, the emotions of the leads are well-drawn, and I thought the cover-up she crafted imaginative. I can't say I found the story wholly original, but I don't regret the time I spent with it.

To say that this cover caught my eye is an understatement. I was drawn to it like a moth to a flame. It’s elegant, bright and exotic looking, but with the air of familiarity as a recognizable piece of historical fiction.

I was eager to read it and thrilled when my copy came. From the description, it sounded a little like Pearl Harbor the movie.

Now no judgement but I loved that movie. I didn’t care for Josh Hartnett but overall I loved that movie and I still watch it every time that it’s on.

So in my mind I was secretly hoping that this book was going to be, at least a little, like the film.

Summary

November, 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, Eva is stunned by the splendor she experiences aboard the steamship SS Lurline; even more so by Lt. Clark Spencer, a man to whom she is drawn but who clearly has secrets of his own. 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 her 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. (summary from Goodreads).

Review

So was this book like the movie, not really, but there were things that reminded me of the film. Obviously the film Pearl Harbor and this book have absolutely nothing to do with each other—they are independent entities and about the only thing they had in common was that two people, a nurse and a Lieutenant find love in the middle of a tragedy and war all set in Pearl Harbor on the eve of the attack. That’s where the similarities end.

I finished this book in a matter of days and found that I really enjoyed it. There were things that bothered me with the dialogue, but they were minor in comparison to the overall story. There were a few words or terms that I like to think of as ‘period language’ that the characters used like ‘gee-wiz’ or ‘golly she’s nice’ or things like that, but then there were other more modern phrases mixed in and I felt that distracting.

The beginning of the book was excellent and the romance between Lt Spencer and Eva was interesting and full of potential, but then once they landed in Hawaii, that’s where things just fizzled out for me and I lost interest in their romance. For something that was put forward do prominently in the beginning, it just didn’t carry through the entire length of the novel which I felt disappointed with.

But what I did love was the setting and how well developed Eva’s story was. I loved reading about her back story and how she came to be in a position at Pearl Harbor. The nursing aspect was interesting and I loved reading about how the hospitals, nurses, and doctors stepped up to the plate.

At the end of the day I felt that this book was worthy of a 4 star rating. It was a great read with a few minor stylistic things that I wished had been different, but on the whole I felt that it was a fun read and I look forward to reading more books by this author!

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. Sadly, there was a lot of discrimination against women in this book. Doctor’s acted like all-knowing assholes towards women, and the women barely stood up for themselves, afraid if they did they’d be fired and/or worse. It infuriated me how a lot of the nurses in this book were treated, as if they were to be tolerated for their unusual ways and not meant to be taken seriously in a ‘man’s world’. Ugh!

The historical aspects of the book were fascinating to read, set before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Normally the historical books that I read are focused ON the event, not the months leading up to the attack. It was an interesting read, and I give it slight bonus points for taking a different approach than what most authors generally use.

I know very little about Pearl Harbor. My grandfather’s time, and I didn’t have much interest in American History. I was more interested in Ancient History like with the Mayans and the Greeks and the Romans. Pearl Harbor was only of vague interest because I knew my grandfather knew people who were a part of that history, so that was part of why I selected this book for review. Another reason was because I wanted to read more ‘recent’ history, and because the story itself sounded interesting.

And it was, though not as good as I hoped it would be. It seemed to be strongly geared towards Eva finding a man to help her be more ‘controlled’ and less independent. It was very frustrating to read her falling for such an egotistical ass, and while eventually the guy lead character grew on me, it was a very long eventually to get there and he still wasn’t my favorite book boyfriend ever. It seemed to me like Eva was trying to hard to be the well-liked and normal nurse, as opposed to getting shit done and taking no prisoners approach.

Overall, I’m giving this 3/5 stars. Originally, it’s 2.5 rounded up to a solid 3 because of how interesting the historical bits were, and I *did* like Eva’s character, I just didn’t much like the story.

This novel starts in 1941 with Eva, a nurse, who has enlisted in the army, getting on a boat to Hawaii to escape her life, thinking she is going to a pretty peaceful place - but of course unbeknownst to her, the Pearl Harbor attack is going to take place soon. I really enjoy reading World War II fiction, but I don't think I've ever read a book about Pearl Harbor before, so I really enjoyed learning a little more about that, and the Hawaii setting. This book also had a good mix of character work, romance, and action. A strong 4 stars, maybe even 4.25.

The Lieutenant's Nurse is a beautifully written story of love set amid the devastation of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Sara Ackerman blends romance, mystery and a bit of intrigue in yet another story set in the beauty of Hawaii.

“Because women are natural nurturers. At least most of us are. We know how to put the patient at ease, willing to hold a hand or whisper comforting words. It helps them heal. And that is a step most men are woefully unprepared for, especially in a tough case.”

A sweet romance you should read yourself! I strongly recommended this novel!

Full review: https://literatureisliving.wordpress.com/2019/03/15/the-lieutenants-nurse-by-sara-ackerman/

I’ve read a lot of World War II historical fiction, so I thought I’d seen it all. In The Lieutenant’s Nurse, Ackerman explores a different aspect of the war. The story takes place in Honolulu during and after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese in December 1941. Of course I learned about the attack in school, but really enjoyed delving deeper into the details of this day and its aftermath in this evocative story.

The main character is Eva Cassidy, a nurse from Michigan who sets off on a ship to Hawaii to help the war effort. We soon learn she is escaping a past full of secrets — uncovering those secrets and how they will affect her future helps propel the story forward. When Eva meets Lieutenant Clark Spencer on the ship, they both feel an instant connection that only deepens when they cross paths again on the island.

Once Eva reaches her post, she meets the other nurses at the hospital, forming lasting bonds while they work together to care for the soldiers gravely injured in the bombings. Ackerman does a wonderful job highlighting the lushness of Hawaii and how it contrasts with the gruesome horrors of war. A beautifully written historical romance, this book also has a touch of mystery and a bit of military intrigue. Fans of World War II fiction will devour this one. And isn’t that cover gorgeous???

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced review copy.
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Oh my! Overall, I really didn't dig the melodrama that was the main vein of this story, but I loved that it surrounded the popular " prior knowledge of Japan's planned attack"on Pearl Harbor.

I love novels that delve into a bit of history and since I found myself in bed rather sick, The Lieutenant's nurse by Sara Ackerman was perfect for my mood. I have to be honest, the fact that one of the characters in the book was a beloved faithful dog really won my heart. Aside from that, I loved how she eloquently described the grim realty of war. How a perfectly beautiful, peaceful place can transform overnight.

While the book does slow down a bit in the middle, I did not mind it too much. The story quickly picks up pace again. It is definitely a book you can't put down as you near the end.

Unfortunately, the formatting of this book on Kindle was atrocious, which highly affected my review. I contacted netgalley about this but they just told me to download it as PDF and read it from my laptop. I am not going to read it from my laptop. So I had to slog my way through the kindle version, rife with errors.

But what I read, I liked. WWII Hawaii. Pearl Harbor. An army corps nurse harboring secrets. A love story. But the formatting just got in the way of my enjoying this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Harlequin-MIRA through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

The Lieutenant's Nurse by Sara Ackerman tells the story of the days surrounding the attack on Pearl Harbor and the intriguing events that question weather or not the Japanese attack was actually a surprise. Your imagination will surly run wild with each page turned.

When Eva Cassidy sailed from the shores of San Francisco on the luxurious Lurline en route to the islands of Hawaii, she could have never expected what lay ahead. The terror that would happen in a mere weeks time is unthinkable. Eva has left her home in Michigan leaving behind a sister and a shadow of secrets, to start a new job in the Army Nurse Corps. While aboard the SS Lurline, she meets Lieutenant Clark Spencer, a linguist and code breaker for the Navy. The moment Eva meets Clark, there is a unmistakable connection as if fate has brought them together. However, a boyfriend stationed at Pearl Harbor complicates things and when Eva arrives in Hawaii, she hopes her new position at Tripler Hospital can be a distraction from the handsome Lieutenant.

The morning of December 7th dawns and the Japanese have begun their attack on Pearl Harbor, destroying its whole pacific fleet and killing and wounding thousands. The war has arrived to the United States and Eva and her fellow nurses must band together to save lives and bring comfort to the dying. But when the Lieutenant is brought in critically wounded, Eva can no longer deny her feelings.

The Lieutenant's Nurse is a riveting tale of courage and love, with engrossing characters and a suspenseful plot.

Praise for Sara Ackerman's The Lieutenant's Nurse!

Review is posted on both Goodreads and Amazon.

The historical events depicted in this novel are so powerful that it's hard for the love story elements to stand out, overshadowed by the tragedy of the attack on Pearl Harbor and the loss of so many lives. Still, it's powerful to see these events through the experiences of the nurses stationed there. The love triangle and some of the espionage elements felt unnecessary, but I still found this an interesting and often compelling read.

The Lieutenant’s Nurse by Sara Ackerman

Truly enjoyed this book and once I started could not put it down reading into the wee hours of the morning! Why?

* I was reminded of a trip to Hawaii when I was sixteen. There were so many men in uniform on the beaches.
* I remember stories my father told of being there ready to deploy during WWII only to have the war end before he was sent off to fight.
* I am a nurse and considered being a nurse anesthetist.
* There are two anesthesiologists in the family. Both my father and brother respected nurses and listened to what they had to advise even though they had more “book learning” they were willing to listen to someone with hands-on experience.
* I have been through wars myself.
* I believed in the romantic element of the story
* The writing was superb
* It made me think
* I liked the characters I was meant to and disliked the ones that deserved it.
* It took me back in time...I could almost see my parents in this book for some reason

Would I read another book by this author? I definitely would!

Thank you to NetGalley and HQN-MIRA for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

The Lieutenants Nurse by Sara Ackerman. I like Lieutenant’s Nurse plot. Is a very interesting historical story set in Pearl Harbor. The characters were very colorful.

I can not say enough great things about this book!! It is truly that amazing!! I loved Sara's first book -- but I believe this one has taken her to a whole new level as a historical fiction writer!!

4 pearly stars to this historical fiction tale

This was one of those books that I flew through, thinking I'll just read one more chapter . . . before you know it, it was well past my bedtime, but I had finished it.

This one has a bit of a complicated plot with a nurse, Eva, fleeing her life in Michigan to join the army medical services in Hawaii. The first part is all about the boat journey and of course, the on-board romance with the handsome Lieutenant Clark! There is some intrigue with picking up Japanese signals and wondering about the origin.

Historical fiction is always interesting because even though you know what's going to happen (bombing of Pearl Harbor) you somehow hope it won't happen in the book. I think there have been some interesting reports questioning if this was really a surprise attack and this book explores a couple of possibilities.

The last half of the book deals with the aftermath of the bombing and since Eva is a nurse, she's right in the thick of things at the hospital. There were some interesting aspects to anesthesia during surgery.

Overall, this was a quick enjoyable read with depth to the characters and an interesting plot. Leaning to the romantic side, but with some real intrigue and danger.

On December 7, 2019 the 78th anniversary of the invasion and destruction of Pearl Harbor will be upon us. This book, although a work of fiction, honors those people who heroically rolled up their sleeves and put shoulders to the task of not only defending our country, Hawaii in particular at the time, but the nurses who worked non-stop to bring aid to our soldiers.

This novel, once I started reading it, was not put down until the last page. It was everything a reader and fan of historical fiction could want. The story of Eva Cassidy and Lt. Clark Spencer may be protagonists in a book, but the reality is that there were many "actual" people who could also tell their story. Compelling and spellbound by the secrets and betrayal, along with the compassion and strength during horrific times, this novel has all the elements of not only a worthwhile read, but a fantastic one. Will we have ever really know if there was a cover-up that our government knew beforehand we would be attacked? Perhaps or not. The romance end of this book kept the pages flying by with what dreams are made of.

Ms. Ackerman's research was excellent, again giving the reader the historic setting and background for this book. And while it was difficult to read some of the more "gory" episodes of those soldiers whose bodies would never be the same again, it was necessary in the telling. The descriptions of Hawaii's landscape was spot-on, you could almost smell the floral and fauna. I guess you could say I really enjoyed "The Lieutenant's Nurse."

My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Because I had read Sara Ackerman’s debut novel, Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers, I continued with her second novel. Told in the dual, third-person perspectives of Eva Cassidy and Lieutenant Clark Spencer interspersed with real memos, headlines, and military communications from before, during, and after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, The Lieutenant’s Nurse is a fascinating interweaving of real and fictional events. Eva, an army nurse, comes to Hawaii carrying a secret that isn’t revealed up front. The reader must seek clues that are sparsely given relating to an incident back in Michigan that nearly ruined her life and became the reason she joined the Army Crops nursing division. Clark’s POV reveals the tragic loss of a beloved wife and their unborn child. Rich in historical details, the novel doesn’t get bogged down in too many details about the attack on Pearl Harbor. Instead, the novel focuses on Clark and Eva, and their experiences before, during, and after the attack. The characters are likeable and sympathetic, but the crossing the Pacific on the ship, the Lurline, even with its requisite shipboard romance, seems too long an introduction to the real action.