I’ve not read another story about nurses in Manila during the war. This was such a story of bravery, determination and friendship. I loved watching the characters use their individual strengths to first, stay alive, and second, assist in the war efforts by nursing the injured using very little equipment and supplies. I really loved the ending!

I felt honored to read this book. This was my first time reading anything by Ariel Lawhon, and it definitely won’t be my last. The writing was excellent—immersive, lyrical, and deeply moving.

This novel is a beautiful tribute to the strength of friendship, the power of love, and the resilience of the human spirit. Even in the midst of war, in the darkness of pain and loss, the story offers hope. The authors reminded me that love isn't just about appearances. Even when you're tired, worn out, and surrounded by depravity, love can still find you. And not the fleeting kind—but real love, the kind that surprises you when you least expect it.

Though the story was long, I couldn’t wait to return to it each time I put it down. It gave me perspective. It reminded me how fragile and fleeting life can be—and it filled me with gratitude for the life I have, for my family, and for the friendships I sometimes take for granted.

This book stayed with me long after I turned the final page. And I have a feeling it will remain with me for a long time to come.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story set in the relatively unexamined Pacific theater. At times, the paving was a little slow, but I feel the amount of information I learned by reading this book was worth it.

What an intriguing and beautifully woven story crafted by three talented authors—Ariel Lawson, Kristina McMorris, and Susan Meissner. While I initially found it challenging to separate the storylines of the three women, as the narrative unfolded, I became deeply connected to the characters. Their resilience and depth drew me in, and by the end, I didn’t want the story to end. Saskia Maarleveld’s narration added another layer of richness to the experience—she brought each character to life with nuance and emotion. A memorable listen from start to finish.

** Thank you, NetGalley, Harper Muse, Ariel Lawson, Kristina McMorris, and Susan Meissner for an eARC copy of ‘When We Had Wings’.

When We Had Wings is a WWII fiction novel bring to life the suffering and trials of the Angels of Bataan. It is a very fast paced and captivating read that interestingly brings to life Manila during WWII through the eyes of three Nurses. Overall, I found the novel very hard to put down with an extremely well-constructed plot that keep me reading! My only complaint is that I felt some of the relationships between characters felt underdeveloped. Despite that I really enjoyed and would recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for a copy of this book.

This was an excellent book of innocence, friendship, and growth. The saying, we don’t know what we have until it is gone, definitely fits here. I enjoyed reading When We Had Wings. The authors did a great job of making the characters human, as if we know them personally. Thank you!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When We Had Wings is an exceptional read that was co-written by three phenomenal authors. Set in the South Pacific in 1941, we find ourselves with three Nurses Penny, Lita and Eleanor. We go through obstacles with them and hardships.
This is historical fiction must read. It is from 2022 am I late posting this review, but this story has stuck with me,
A solid four star, must read,

What a powerhouse of incredibly talented historical fiction writers! When We Had Wings was a powerful and stunning novel that I just cannot say enough good things about. These three authors wove their voices seamlessly through the pages of this unputdownable story. Memorable, inspiring, atmospheric, and compelling are just several words I would use to describe this WW2 story based on true events. This book offered a fresh perspective in the genre, based on "the Angels of the Bataan", the nurses in Manila during the war, and I couldn't have appreciated that more. Also, I loved the theme of the strength of female friendships throughout! A must read!

Many thanks to Harper Muse and Netgalley for the gifted e-copy!

When We Had Wings was by three of my favorite authors, Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris and Susan Meissner. Their writing meshed so seamlessly well that it was difficult to tell who had written what. Together they were able to tell the story and pay tribute to the brave and courageous army and navy nurses who became the first time ever female inmates in Japanese POW internment camps during World War II. When We Had Wings was a historical fiction novel based on real events. Little had ever been written about these nurses who dedicated their lives to caring for the sick and wounded soldiers stationed in the Pacific while simultaneously being subjected to the atrocities of war the Japanese army inflicted upon them. The combined research that these three masterful authors gathered and included in this book was impeccable. Some of the characters and the places mentioned within the book were real. When We Had Wings was well plotted and included the day to day duties the nurses carried out regardless of their circumstances, the widespread starvation instituted by the Japanese that resulted in widespread malnutrition, the chronic illnesses like malaria and dengue fever that raged rampantly, the cruel and unjust punishment the Japanese army handed out, the formation of long lasting and treasured friendships and even some romances. It was perfectly paced and the characters were well developed.

Three young women had completed their nursing training and found themselves on Manila Bay. They were Penny Franklin who was originally from Texas and was an U.S. Lieutenant Nurse in the Army. Then there was Angelita Capel, better known as Lita, who was a civilian nurse and a product of a Filipina mother and an American missionary father. Last to arrive was Eleanor Lindstrom. Eleanor was from Minnesota where she had lived on a dairy farm. She was now a nurse in the United States Navy. All three of them, Penny, Lita and Eleanor, had signed on for their own personal and varied reasons. The night Eleanor arrived and they all had drinks in Salon B of the Army and Navy club they instantly bonded and became true and trusting friends. They made a pact to see each other as often as they could. They named their designated day to meet HAM day.

In the beginning, Penny’s, Lita’s and Eleanor’s nursing duties on Manila Bay were light. Manila Bay felt like a tropical paradise. The weather was beautiful and they had ample free time. Everything changed drastically though when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7th. Shortly after, the Japanese began to bomb Manila. For the first time, the nurses were in the middle of real combat. They had not been trained to endure combat. The Japanese did not discriminate over where they dropped their bombs. Hospitals were not spared. The nurses were evacuated to different camps located within the jungle where they set up makeshift hospitals. While in the jungles, many soldiers fell victim to malaria and dengue fever. Shortly those camps fell to the Japanese as did the Philippines. For three long years, the nurses were kept prisoners of the Japanese army. They were starved and treated without mercy. They became so desperate for food that they resulted in eating grass and even bugs. The atrocities the Japanese army carried out were cruel and sadistic. Despite the starvation and weakened conditions Penny, Lita and Eleanor experienced, these brave nurses continued to care for their patients. Although, Penny, Lita and Eleanor found themselves separated during the Japanese invasion, they did wind up at the same place as each other even if it was only for a day or two. They constantly worried about each other. Lita became sick with malaria while they were in the jungle and although she recovered from it, the disease left her weakened and affected her limbs and her gait for her whole captivity. Penny, Eleanor and Lita endured three years in Japanese prison camps. They feared for their lives every day and those of the wounded and sick they nursed and all the children in their care as well. Penny. Eleanor and Lita also courageously helped the resistance by smuggling information out of the POW camp in any way they could. Information was also smuggled into the camps to learn about the Allied advancements. Would Penny, Lita and Eleanor survive the war to tell their stories and make the world aware of the way they were treated by the Japanese?

When We Had Wings was a story about committed, brave, resilient and courageous nurses that endured more than their share under the Japanese army during World War II. It was a story about friendship, devotion, bravery, dedication and even love. I really enjoyed the characters in this book and learning about what these heroic nurses endured. I listened to the audiobook of When We Had Wings that was performed very well by Saskia Maarleveld. Without hesitation, I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Harper Muse for allowing me to listen to this audiobook through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Publication is set for October 18, 2022.

Got busy IRL and ran out of time to finish reading this book a while back. But I did get a physical copy and my goodness this book was amazing.

The book had hope and joy… and was upsetting at times. Through the suffering the characters had they all had hoped to see each other again (family/friends).

A historical novel based on the nurses known as “the Angels of Bataan” in Manila during WWII. The protagonists Penny, Eleanor and Lita give all of the emotional aspects of being a nurse, a woman and a prisoner of war. As a fan of historical fiction and the three authors, I enjoyed this book about a difficult time in history and the reality of the hardship these women went through. I loved that a large theme was female friendships and lifting each other up. I have purchased a copy of the book to give as a gift to a female nurse friend.

Thank you #NetGalley, #HarperMuse, #ArielLawhon,#KristinaMcMorris, #SusanMeissner and #When WeHadWings for the e-book for my honest review.

Overall I thought this was a good collaboration between three historical fiction authors. It was definitely part of WW2 history that I wasn’t as familiar with and it was heart wrenching. I read the book and also listened to the audiobook. The narrator used is one of my favorites.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

THE GOOD:
Sweet novel of friendships forged and that last a lifetime. Also a story of adversity overcome time and time again as these nurses face different aspects of the WWII scene in the Pacific. Based on the true stories of these inspiring, fun, lively, and heroic ladies. Amazingly told via the alternating perspectives of each leading lady, each voice told by one of the three authors, which made for both brilliant authenticity and unique characters for all three.

THE BAD:
Nothing! Other than a small personal complaint that the Philippines are north of the equator, so in the North Pacific, not the South.

CONCLUSION:
Highly recommend! Will be a special favorite of Book Clubs and WWII Historical Fiction fans.

Who can resist a collaboration between Lawhon, Meissner and McMorris...not me! This is a good historical fiction based on real events about true friendship among a group of nurses amidst the horrors of WWII. I was not aware of "the Angels of Bataan" nor their heartbreaking story of strength and survival as female prisoners of war. It's fitting that I read this soon after reading The Women by Kristin Hannah about nurses during the Vietnam war. The books have similarities and if you enjoy one, you will like the other. My thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I finally had the chance to read this book. i just got finished reading SIlent Honor by Danielle Steel, about the treatment of Asians in America after Pearl Harbor. Really good book. This book is much more gut wrenching about a group of nurses in the Philipines during WWII. I love a well researched WWII novel and this one was very good!

I was really excited about having an early copy to read of this one as a nurse myself. Inspired by the true story of the "Angels of Baatan", three women looking to escape troubles in their real life, think they find themselves on a dream assignment in the Phillippines during World War 2, only for that narrative to change completely when Japan invades. They find themselves captive and strive to keep hope alive between themselves and the other prisoners.

Really grateful for NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to advance read this novel. My opinions are entirely my own.

When We Had Wings is inspired by the real-life “Angels of Bataan and Corregidor.” Seventy-seven American military nurses taken prisoner in the Philippines, provided lifesaving care to the civilian POWs in the Santo Tomas and Los Banos Internment Camps where they were held from 1942 to 1945.

The book is a collaboration between historical fiction heavyweights Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris, and Susan Meissner. The story unfolds through the perspectives of Eleanor Lindstrom, who leaves her Minnesota dairy farm for the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps, Penny Franklin, an army nurse escaping personal troubles in Texas, and Lita Capel, who has a Filipina mother and American father and works as a nurse near the base.

Their friendship develops over cocktails in the tropical paradise of Manila, but the Japanese invasion changes everything, leading them from military bases and local hospitals to internment camps and prisons.

Their unwavering determination to keep hope alive, not only for themselves but also for their fellow inmates, is at the heart of this gripping narrative. When We Had Wings is rich in historical detail, bringing the jungles and wartime experiences to vivid life. I was invested in the characters’ fates, sharing their joys, and shedding a tear or two along the way.

When We Had Wings struck me as reminiscent of Angels of the Pacific, which I read earlier. The beginning of the book was corny, but I was impressed as the story unfolded.

I alternated between reading the eBook and listening to the audio version. As always, narrator Saskia Maarleveld rocked it. Honestly, I prefer Susan Meissner’s and Kristina McMorris’ solo work, but this collective effort still tells an interesting story. 4 stars

** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions are my own.

I could not put this book down! This book sheds light on fighting on the Pacific front. Eleanor (Navy), Penny (Army) and Lita (Filipina), three young nurses enjoying the south pacific. They become fast friends, meeting for happy hour, sharing their lives. But not long after Eleanor arrives, their corner of paradise is shattered by bombs as WWII comes to their doorstep. They are evacuated in different directions, each wondering if the other survived. They continued to perform their nursing duties as they are continually under attack. Eventually they become prisoners of war, but continue to care for those around them. This book sheds light on Americans fighting on the Pacific front.

I normally enjoy historical fiction and was looking forward to this book because it tells of the Philippines' involvement in WWII that I was unaware of. Unfortunately, after reading 30% of the book, I still didn't connect or relate with any of the characters and decided to put it down. In my opinion, there wasn't enough character development for me to get fully immersed in their storylines.

I don't think it's fair to review a book that you don't finish so I will not be posting a review on any of my normal review locations. Thank you for the opportunity to read it though.

Both touching and heartbreaking this book had all the feels. Humbling to read about the nurses that served during WWII. This was a well written and anyone who enjoys should give this a try. This is something that I did not know about and I did not want the story to end. Thank you for the copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review 4.5 stars