“When We Had the Wings” is a heartful novel about a friendship formed between three nurses (Eleanor, Penny and Lita) in Manila during WWII. Each woman houses her own secrets. Each woman faces further hardships during this novel, but it’s their perseverance that makes this such an enjoyable read.

While the women’s duties in the Philippines start out as light, it’s 1941, and all readers know what’s ahead. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Japanese army attack the Philippines. As a result, the outnumbered allied forces retreat, are eventually surrounded, and given no choice but to surrender. Eleanor, Penny and Lita are sent to different internment camps and struggle to survive. Most of the historical fiction I have read has focused on Europe, so I appreciated a narration of this slice of history.

My thanks to the author, the authors and NetGalley for this intriguing book.

"When We Had Wings" is a fresh take on World War II historical fiction, following the story of three nurses (one army, one navy, and one Filipina) serving in the Philippines. Susan Meissner is one of my absolute favorite authors and I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to my expectations and left me feeling a bit disappointed.

The concept for the story was very good and unlike anything I've previously read. Eleanor, Penny, and Lita are three nurses from very different backgrounds, each with a different reason for wanting to serve as a nurse. The women are briefly thrust together by war and become fast friends,; they are then thrust apart again when the Japanese take over the territory and the three women become prisoners of war. At its heart, this book is about friendship, hope, and bravery in the face of the brutality of war. The story clearly showed how vital women were to the war effort, even though history tends to gloss over their achievements.

However, this book could have used a more thorough editing. I don't know if it's because this book was written by three different authors, but it really did drag and I found myself skimming portions of the book until the plot began to move again. I think it would be more impactful if it were 50 pages shorter. I understand that life in a POW camp could be tedious, but that doesn't mean that the novel needs to be tedious as well. I wish the language would have "showed" me the story more rather than just "told" me the story.

There was also one glaring continuity error that I just could not get past. The Japanese character Akibo changed rank several times, back and forth. First he was a lieutenant, then he was a captain, then a lieutenant, then a captain, then a lieutenant...well you get the picture. This was not a story told through dual timelines. Now, I did read an advanced copy of this book and perhaps this error was corrected in the final version, but it was very distracting and a bit confusing. I had to keep flipping back to make sure he was in fact the same person.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. Women military personnel rarely get the credit and/or attention they deserve and I was very excited to see about them.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I learned quite a bit reading this book. I hadn't known very much about the parts of the war based in the Philippines, or that they were attacked right after Pearl Harbor. I liked the way the material was presented, felt very well-researched, written in such a way that it wasn't at a rudimentary level.

Eleanor, Penny and Lita became friends under difficult conditions. The strength that they and all the prisoners exhibited was amazing and hopeful to me. I highly recommend this book, especially if you want to learn about this dark period in history.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

These are three of my favorite authors so I couldn’t wait to read this book.Told through the eyes of three nurses held captive I was immediately drawn in to their story their survival their emotions.#netgalley #harpermuse

What a novel! Despite the book market being saturated with WW2 novels, this novel of nurses stationed inthe Pacific IA not one to miss. The trio of authors kept you engaged in the plot throughout.

This trio of fabulous authors are among my favorites, and so I was thrilled to read their collaborative novel. This historical fiction takes us to the Philippines in 1941 to a chapter of the war that I knew little about. The story is told through 3 women, Lita, Penny and Eleanor who are nurses and heroines who are eventually referred to as the Angels of Bataan for their courage, care and hope during an atrocious time.

Just when I was sure I wouldn't read yet another book set during the Second World War, WHEN WE HAD WINGS by Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris, and Susan Meissner grabbed me by the heart and would not let go through the harrowing tale of three nurses stationed in the Pacific. When their once-paradise becomes a war zone and the nurses are imprisoned, the three survive, thrive, and inspire with their intelligence, skills, and indomitable spirit, encouraging and enabling one another to continue unbearable and unthinkable privation. The writing is beautiful, the characters so well-drawn that I felt like I knew them, and the biggest bonus for me is that I have discovered two writers of historic fiction that I had not read before -- and cannot wait to enjoy. A must-read for gripping, involving, wonderful. I received a copy of this novel and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Title: When We Had Wings
By: Ariel Lawhon; Kristina McMorris; Susan Meissner
Harper Muse
Release Date: 10/18/2022
Genre: Historical Fiction, History, Women's Fiction

Three talented authors joined together to write an extraordinary work of historical fiction in When We Had Wings. Set in the Philippines during World War II, this is the story of the experiences of nurses Eleanor, Lita, and Penny. The three women displayed undeniable bravery and courage during times of adversity and danger. Lawhon, McMorris, and Meissner tell of not only the occurrences and perils of this period in history, but also of the friendship of the women.

The book is well researched and provides education into the events during an important period and location in history. The authors are to be commended for this superior collaboration.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Muse. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have a goal of reading a historical novel set in each country involved in WWII. This book checks the box for the Philippines.

While many novels focus on the western European countries, the publishing world seems to overlook eastern Europe and the Pacific. (Yes, that’s a hint!) So I was thrilled to find “When We Had Wings” which portrays the experience of Army and Navy nurses, who along with their Filipina counterparts, became prisoners of war. The book focuses on three women: Eleanor (Navy), Penny (Army), and Lita (a local Filipina nurse). The women became friends when stationed in Manila, but in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor they are scattered across the islands. Eventually, the installations where they worked fell to the Japanese.

Frequently, I would stop reading in order to google a place or event, such as Corregidor, the Malinta Tunnel, Bataan Death March, and the Santo Tomas Internment Camp, a 60-acre campus which housed well over 4000 people. There is plenty of illness, mistreatment, and deprivation in the story, but also the power of friendship coupled with resilience of the human spirit.

Prior to this book, I was already a fan of each of these authors individually; together—they are amazing.

There are so many WWII novels out there that it takes a new spin to make my want to read a new novel set in this time period. I really enjoyed reading about the experiences of three nurses in the Phillipines who are held as POW's when the Japanese invade. This is a story about resilience and survival.

This book focused on three women who are nurses in the South Pacific during World War II. The book shares the hard decisions and horrible conditions these nurses dealt with as they worked to help heal injured soldiers, while also dealing with much uncertainty in their day-to-day activities.

This was a decent novel about the second world war as it happened in the Philippines. This was a piece of history I knew nothing about and I enjoyed learning what happened. I was especially interested in the prison camps and how supplies were smuggled in. I liked having the perspective of three characters and the fact that they were nurses gave an added dimension.

I did enjoy the book, but I feel like it could have been more moving. There was a lot of telling rather than showing - sometimes I felt it was just "this happened, and then this happened," which distanced me from the story. We were often told how great friends the three girls were but I never really felt that friendship, it was more of a device to connect up the stories. I never felt fully engaged with the characters and atmosphere. I also found some parts of the ending a bit too neatly wrapped up. So not entirely a hit for me but still worth a read for the history aspect and the individual stories.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thanks to the publishers, Harper Muse, and Netgalley.

Three wonderful authors Ariel Lawhorn, Kristina McMorris, and Susan Meissner worked together to bring their readers an amazing story about three brave nurses who served in Manilla in the South Pacific during WWII. Each is escaping their past. In their early 20’s, one is a widow, one has lost the person she loves, and one is a Filipina whose older sisters have moved to the United States. A few months before the bombing at Pearl Harbor, they meet at the Army Navy club. This is a story of friendship as they bond together. At first, they work long hours taking care of patients injured in the South Pacific. Conditions worsen and then the Japanese arrive. Each has their own story of survival.

I did struggle through the first part of the book. It moved too slowly for me and sometimes read like a history book. After the Japanese invaded, the story picked up, and I felt the pain each went through in trying to survive. I felt like I was there with each of them. I loved that they reunite at the Army Navy Club in 1951, and we learn what happened to them after the war.

Throughout the book, I tried to figure out which author’s writing I was reading, but I could not! My thanks to Harper Muse and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

When We Had Wings is a historical fiction by Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris and Susan Meissner. This book is based on the real story of nurses based in the Philippines during World War II.

So I enjoyed this book but it was very similar to Angels of The Pacific by Elise Hooper which came out in March and I absolutely loved it. Both books are about WWII nurses on the Philippines and told through multiple POV perspectives of the horror that the nurses went through as the Philippines were attacked by the Japanese. These women were held as POWs in two different civilian internment camps.

I liked how in this book we got the viewpoints of an Army nurse, a Navy nurse and a Filipino nurse. It was well written and I couldn't tell that three different authors wrote it. The only thing I wanted was an author's note, I'm hoping that because it's an arc it was missing. I've read and loved books by all three if these authors and they've written some of my favorite historical fiction.

I think more people should read about these remarkable women and more should know about the Philippines in WWII so I recommend reading either Angels of The Pacific or When We Had Wings.

I have read numerous accounts and non fiction books about the plight of those caught in the Philippines during WWII. I knew it was just a matter of time before historical fiction found these stories.
I began this book around noon and didn’t budge from my spot until I finished the last word. Three authors wrote this book and their voices blended beautifully. I couldn’t tell one author from the others, but I really didn’t care because I was so caught up in this story.
This is one book you will want to read before the year is over.
I do wish an authors’ note had been included.

It’s 1941, during WW2, when U.S. Navy nurse Eleanor Lindstrom, U.S. Army nurse Penny Franklin, and Filipina nurse Lita Capel meet in Manila and forge a friendship during their assignments. But when the Japanese army take control of the Philippine Islands, the nurses are each forced to serve in combat conditions and eventually become the first female prisoners of WW2.

This novel is written by three authors: Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris, and Susan Meissner. This fascinates me, how multiple authors can creatively come together and write a story that reads easy, as if from one author’s voice. As the nurses are scattered throughout Manila in different camps or prisons, the three character point of view allows for a seamless and in depth look at The Angels of Bataan. This is a lesser known story in WW2 that will feel refreshing to read for historical fiction fans. While it was well researched, I did feel at times it read a little dry, and a little non-fiction rather than historical fiction. Details of the story could have been shown by the authors rather than merely listed, which would allow for more feeling and depth. I also would have loved more detail about the medical components of this story, and more development of the romance. That being said, the ending to this story of perseverance and friendship is satisfying and uplifting.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the chance to read this and give my honest opinion.

A solid historical fiction read from three well known authors, delving into the history of nurses held as prisoners of war in the Philippines. This book will interest those who know little about the pacific front of world war two and the lives of those who lived during the Japanese occupation. Not as engaging as some of the other books by the same authors, but it will find its home among those who enjoy world war two fiction.

The story of three women from different circumstances and backgrounds becoming fast friends had a sweet tone to it. Although initially a little difficult to keep the characters and their backstories straight, once I got about half-way through I was engaged. The various trials that they each faced provided yet another new perspective to a war that occurred 80 years ago. I hadn't heard of the Japanese internment camps at the Philippines on which this story was based. Overall a nice interweaving of three point of views.

I really enjoyed the story of the Angels of Bataan. I enjoyed that we got to see the perspective of a Navy and Army nurse, as well as a Filipina nurse who doesn't have the backing of the US behind her. Not only does this tell the story of the first female POWs, but the story takes place in an area of the world that we rarely encounter in WWII historical fiction.

The book itself felt a little long-winded. There were a few times where I wanted to DNF because I just didn't feel connected to the characters. I found that I didn't really care what happened to them as their individual characters, but I continued going because I wanted to learn what these women went through. So much of WWII historical fiction focuses on the Nazis and it seems the Japanese are rarely talked about and I felt these women deserved their story being told after all this time.

Overall I would recommend the book for fans of WWII historical fiction that are in it for the learning. If you're looking for a wonderfully written story to sweep you off your feet, this one it's the mark a little bit.

Three talented authors join forces to create a compelling historical novel about three nurses stationed in the Philippines during WWII who met and became the closest of friends. Following the invasion of Pearl Harbor, they became separated as they were held in POW facilities by the Japanese. All three came from different backgrounds, joined the military effort as nurses for varying reasons and had horrifying experiences of starvation, torture and death threats during their interment. Strong beyond belief, each searched for news of each other as well as the brief love encounters each experienced while being held for several years. Strong character development, high suspense and exceptional story line make this work deserving of a strong, positive recommendation of 4.5 stars. The graphic descriptions of human suffering were too explicit for my liking and would be a concern for a reader who avoids violent descriptions. I thank NetGalley with providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.