Cover Image: The Lieutenant's Girl

The Lieutenant's Girl

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Member Reviews

As a fan of WWII historical fiction and aghast at the events of Pearl Harbor, this story was one that I definitely wanted to read, and it did not disappoint. Everett and Elizabeth fall in love amidst the background of the war, in which Everett serves in the Air Force, and Elizabeth defied her Jewish family to serve as a nurse. Full of courage, patriotism, heroism, struggle, loss, and romance, this has all the makings of a great read. It kept me engaged, and the characters were easy to empathize with, but did feel that sections could have been a bit more abbreviated as at times it felt long. No stranger to WWII stories, I felt that the author did a great job at bringing this story to life, and definitely one to check out for fans of the time. Thanks so much to Shari J. Ryan, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this e-arc.

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Very good read highly recommended. I totally recommend this book to friends and family it does not disappoint. Hope to read more books by this author in the near future.

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Everything about The Lieutenant's Girl is just heartbreaking as it is beautiful and just filled me with so much emotion. The story, the setting, the characters, all come together to make one of the best historical fiction romances I’ve read in a long time. I loved this novel from the first page to the last. Inspired by the events of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and thereafter the entry into World War II by the United States,. A gut-wrenching WWII novel that convincingly recreates the brutality, displays of courage and survival in a powerful and unforgettable story of love and strength in the face of war. One of the best historical fiction books about WWII that I've read. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I enjoyed most of this WWII historical romance, there were times it seemed repetitive but overall the plot is good and the characters have chemistry. I was impressed with the descriptions of the Pearl Harbor attack, and the injuries that the nurses saw. 3.5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

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This is an absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking story about war, loss, and love. The tears come fast and steady with the story so be prepared to have tissues nearby! I couldn’t put this book down long enough to want to pick it back up immediately. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

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Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve looked Shari Ryan’s books to date and this one was no different. Ryan created such an immersive world which immediately pulled me in. Elizabeth and Everett are one of my favourite couples. Their relationship and their development as a couple was so natural against the historical back drop of Pearl Harbour.

One of the most amazing things about this book was the detail of Pearl Harbour. I truly felt like I was there with Everett and Elizabeth as they experienced this. It brought tears to my eyes and goosebumps on my flesh. The Lieutenant’s Girl is one of the most immersive historical book I’ve ever read. If you want a book which will pull you in, make you feel everything from the past, and bring a tear to your eye, Shari Ryan has created the perfect book just for you.

The Lieutenant’s Girl is an unforgettable book which will keep you turning the pages until the end. I cannot wait to read even more books from Shari Ryan in the future!

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I love WWII and if you need a WWII romance with brimming with drama, solid historical research, and true love, then look no further. I couldn't put it down and will definitely reread this!

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I'm so excited to be a part of another blog tour this week, this time for The Lieutenant's Girl by Shari J. Ryan. I've read a fair number of books lately, mostly YA and mysteries, but my heart still belongs to historical fiction, especially World War 2 stories. And this book was just what I needed!

Now since it is absolutely not a secret that I love historical fiction, it shouldn't come as a surprise that I loved The Lieutenant's Girl. The dual timeline features present day elderly Elizabeth telling her story in recollections to her grandson in law--how she met Everett, saw the bombings at Pearl Harbor, joined the Army Nurse Corps, and eventually posted to Europe. As the reader follows along with her story, the horrors of the war are mixed with her devotion to Everett who is also sent to Europe, leaving one wondering if they will meet again.

I really enjoyed the dual timeline being past and present Elizabeth telling her own story. There was something quite touching about the elderly woman sharing her thoughts with the grandson in law she can't quite place but feels the need to tell him anyhow.

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Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this novel. I LOVED IT. it was a blend of two of my favorite genres: WWII historical fiction and romance. I’d say Nicholas Sparks with a WWII twist.

This book did not miss. I enjoyed learning about the Army Nurse Corps and following the love story of the two main characters. The average person may find the romance a bit sappy, but if you enjoy romance novels, you’ll enjoy every page of it (especially the end!)

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I really enjoyed this story = it would make an amazing film. Really poignantly told with the flashbacks and the linking the past and future together and I was moved by the ending. Lovely book!

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The attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 is just one of the heartbreaking moments highlighted in Shari J. Ryan’s book, The Lieutenant’s Girl. Living in Hawaii with her father and her twin brothers, 20-year-old Elizabeth Salzburg is training to become a nurse. As World War II is raging, Elizabeth wants to play her part, even though her aspirations do not meet with her stern father’s approval. She really hopes to join the Army Nurse Corps as soon as she is able.

Meeting Hollywood star - now Lieutenant Everett Anderson - changes Elizabeth’s life in more ways than one. Despite how drawn she is to Everett, her commander father has laid down the law. He forbids her to date anyone on base. Always the responsible one, Elizabeth takes her studies seriously, while also helping out quite a bit at home. However, she is nearing the end of her studies and feels more than capable of making her own decisions. Unable to resist their shared attraction, Elizabeth and Everett begin to see one another secretly.

One day while Elizabeth is picnicking with Everett, the unthinkable happens. The Japanese have launched a devastating attack on Pearl Harbor. Countless are injured and many, many lives are lost. In short order, both Elizabeth and Everett rise to the occasion and start helping in any way that they can, although they do become separated with all the chaos surrounding them. All the while, Elizabeth is terrified for the well-being of her father and brothers and is desperate to know if they are safe.

This sudden activity increases her sense of urgency to enlist and that is exactly what she does. Not only will this decision bring the ire of her father, this very well might threaten any future she might have with Everett. Duty reins and Elizabeth proceeds to display remarkable honor and bravery under the most difficult of circumstances all while love manages to flourish between her and Everett.

The story smoothly blends the horrors that resulted from the war with a modern-day Elizabeth being interviewed by her granddaughter’s husband as she struggles to recall the events of her life over the past decades. This book is a remarkable story of strength and honor with love being the thread that pulled th past and present together, proving that love indeed can stand the test of time.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please also enjoy my YouTube video review - The attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 is just one of the heartbreaking moments highlighted in Shari J. Ryan’s book, The Lieutenant’s Girl. Living in Hawaii with her father and her twin brothers, 20-year-old Elizabeth Salzburg is training to become a nurse. As World War II is raging, Elizabeth wants to play her part, even though her aspirations do not meet with her stern father’s approval. She really hopes to join the Army Nurse Corps as soon as she is able.

Meeting Hollywood star - now Lieutenant Everett Anderson - changes Elizabeth’s life in more ways than one. Despite how drawn she is to Everett, her commander father has laid down the law. He forbids her to date anyone on base. Always the responsible one, Elizabeth takes her studies seriously, while also helping out quite a bit at home. However, she is nearing the end of her studies and feels more than capable of making her own decisions. Unable to resist their shared attraction, Elizabeth and Everett begin to see one another secretly.

One day while Elizabeth is picnicking with Everett, the unthinkable happens. The Japanese have launched a devastating attack on Pearl Harbor. Countless are injured and many, many lives are lost. In short order, both Elizabeth and Everett rise to the occasion and start helping in any way that they can, although they do become separated with all the chaos surrounding them. All the while, Elizabeth is terrified for the well-being of her father and brothers and is desperate to know if they are safe.

This sudden activity increases her sense of urgency to enlist and that is exactly what she does. Not only will this decision bring the ire of her father, this very well might threaten any future she might have with Everett. Duty reins and Elizabeth proceeds to display remarkable honor and bravery under the most difficult of circumstances all while love manages to flourish between her and Everett.

The story smoothly blends the horrors that resulted from the war with a modern-day Elizabeth being interviewed by her granddaughter’s husband as she struggles to recall the events of her life over the past decades. This book is a remarkable story of strength and honor with love being the thread that pulled th past and present together, proving that love indeed can stand the test of time.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please also enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/T7KZIh6_Mqo

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This was a beautifully written and heart-wrenching story. Lizzie (Elizabeth) and Everett meet unexpectedly, and although her father discourages Lizzie from being in a relationship with any of the troops under his command, they date and fall in love. In the weeks following the horrific attack on Pearl Harbor, they stay close, but decisions are made that separate them. They continue in a long-term relationship, meeting up at various places where they are both serving; Lizzie as a nurse and Everett as a pilot.

The story is told in flashback style, Lizzie is re-telling her story to be put into a book. I feel like the book was very well researched, the phrases used and her father's attitude that Lizzie should stay home and care for him and her brothers after her mother's untimely death ring true to the period. The horrific nature of the attack on Pearl and the Arizona are vividly described, and you can feel the terror as you read. I don't believe I've read anything by this author before but will definitely search out her work in the future.

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

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It's going to be really difficult to do this book justice at all (even though I am someone who talks quite a bit). I'll give it my best shot though.

'The Lieutenant's Girl' wasn't just a story about a war - it was a tale of two hearts combining, two people trying to find their calling in life yet finding each other in the process, a story which made time stand still.

Set during the Second World War in 1941, the storyline switches between life back then, and life in the 'present' day of 2018, with Elizabeth (Lizzie) being the dominant character of the present day. A lot has changed in Elizabeth's life over the years, not just because of what she saw as an army nurse, but because of personal gains and losses. We find out early on that Elizabeth lost her mum a few years prior, and her dad is so set on doing what was right by her, that he ended up stopping her being a 'typical' twenty year old. He was scared that he would lose his daughter due to the war, yet by not listening to her and guarding her life choices, he was beginning to lose Lizzie anyway by pushing her away. Part of me could see why he was so protective of his daughter - he had already lost someone he loved dearly and he wasn't going to take the chance with the last female loved one in his life. I understood that completely. That said, I could also see why Lizzie was so irritated by it because she felt suffocated and felt as though she wasn't good enough to be like her two brothers who were in the army as well as their father.

As we all know, life during the war was male dominated and women weren't really put into the 'firing line', so to speak, purely because of their gender. It was noted that a woman's role was to serve her husband, care for her family, and/or nurse. The latter two being exactly what Lizzie did and was trying to do. She was aware of the dangers that could potentially lie ahead, but one thing she wasn't fully aware of were the dangers of being in the throws of a war AND being a jew. One word - Hitler.

Historical fiction fascinates me greatly, especially when it comes to war time, Auschwitz etc, so this book was right up my street and I took to the book like a bee takes to pollen! I was also fascinated by Lizzie and Everett's story, wow. From the get go those two had a special something. I didn't think it was going to last because of the uncertainty of the war, being Missing In Action, and so forth, and I could feel the emotion behind Lizzie's words every time she spoke about not receiving a letter she so badly longed for. Their relationship was such a powerful one to read, and I loved how the author made me feel as though I was being taken on the journey alongside them, witnessing first hand their raw emotions, feeling frightened for them both, thinking that every single day news was going to break that one of them had died. I can't even begin to imagine the heartbreak that people suffered during the war and just how much of a selfless act it was to put themselves on the line for their countries. If you're reading this and are someone who has lived through wars, been in the army or what not, I just want to say thank you to you and yours for your service.

Apologies, I'm rambling slightly! I was blown away by every word, every letter, every snippet of information that was given to me throughout 'The Lieutenant's Girl'. Everything had its place, everything spoke to me in such a way that broke my heart yet gave me strength at the same time. This book showed me even more so that life is such a gift and your memories are your treasures.

You know what else is also a treasure? Shari J.Ryan and this book. 'The Lieutenant's Girl' will forever have a piece of my heart and I thank Shari J.Ryan for giving me the gift of Lizzie and Everett.

Beautiful. Just....beautiful.

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I love World War II history. However, I have not read a great deal about a set in Pearl Harbor. I have had the opportunity to live on the base of Pearl Harbor, and I am forever humbled to be where living history was set. I think the author took great detail to write about this setting and has correct details such as the base's beaches.

When I went into the book, I had predictions based on other movies and books with a similar period. I was greatly surprised and excited to see that my expectations were shattered. The pacing moved a bit slow sometimes, but it was a great juxtaposition to the action that in engulfed most the of the novel.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Pearl Harbor, 1941 Elizabeth was raised in a military family and she is studying to be a nurse. On that fateful day in December when Pearl Harbor was attacked, Elizabeth’s life changed forever. Everett Anderson is a former Hollywood actor and is now serving his country as a paratrooper. Elizabeth and Everett are secretly seeing each other and were hoping that their life together would turn out very differently than the course it is about to take. Elizabeth also has a desire to serve her country in their time of need and she enlists as a nurse into the Army Nurse Corps. She is immediately transferred into the middle of the conflict in Europe.

I absolutely love the amazing descriptions that the author portrays throughout this story. I completely enjoyed the story of Elizabeth and Everett and how their life unfolded. There were so many things, so many obstacles they had to overcome. They sacrificed everything for their country and for each other. This story of courage and heroism was well written. I found myself to be teary-eyed throughout most of the book as it hit all the emotions.. This book made me ponder about the world events during World War II. So many told and untold stories. I absolutely loved it, don’t pass this one up. It is sure to stay with me for a long while.

Thank you Shari J. Ryan for such a wonderfully told story. I enjoyed it very much and I highly recommend it.

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Title: The Lieutenant’s Girl
Author: Shari J. Ryan
Publisher: Bookouture

Review to be posted to Goodreads and retail sites such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble upon publication date on June 22, 2022.

This eARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Starting in 1941, this book follows the story of Elizabeth Salzberg, a young Jewish woman, as she becomes a nurse at the beginning of World War II. Elizabeth grew up on the island of Hawaii with a father in the military and two brothers following in his steps. Even though Elizabeth joins the Army Nurse Corp as soon as she’s old enough and has her nursing degree, she seems to try to take after her mother who died while helping people with Polio. It is ingrained in her that her purpose in life is to help people. She is very focused on her career and her life until she meets Hollywood star, Lieutenant Everett Anderson. He worms his way into her heart and even the heart of her strict father. The story spans their relationship from before the war, to the bombing in Pearl Harbor, and the entirety of the war.

This book is very slow to start with Ryan taking her time to build the relationship between Everett and Elizabeth. Her writing of their conversations is almost poetic and is really quite pretty to read. However, it’s not what I was expecting and so I was a little bored waiting for the action to start. Once they both were sent to Europe to serve in the war, the book suddenly felt rushed with Ryan jumping through the majority of Elizabeth’s time in Europe to the end of the war. This book also alternates between present time and the 1940s but the present timeline is very confusing with all the characters and not the best overall.

My favorite part of this book is the growth of Elizabeth throughout this story. She is described as a very independent, strong woman at the beginning but you really get to see it later on when she faces different challenges and rises to the occasion each time. I also thought her perspective as a proud Jewish woman serving in World War II was interesting and powerful. Overall, the book is first and foremost a love story that is done beautifully and a story about a woman serving in World War II second.

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The early morning sunrise glowing from the beach where Elizabeth and Everett had taken a picnic breakfast to watch the magic, was shattered by the sound of Japanese bombers in the distance. As the two of them arrived at the port, they were horrified at what they were seeing. Bombs were raining down on Pearl Harbor's military shipping, sirens were sounding and people screaming - the chaos was incredible. The Arizona had taken a direct hit and was sinking with over 2000 on board - Elizabeth and Everett raced to a small boat heading their way, to help rescue survivors.

Elizabeth, a proud Jewish girl, was the only daughter of Commander Salzberg and as such had been very sheltered, but her training as a nurse held her in good stead. She joined the Army Nurse Corps - against the wishes of her father - while Everett, who was a pilot, was transferred for training with the paratroopers. They promised each other they would write, but would they ever see each other again?

With war raging across Europe and Elizabeth, first in England then Europe, worked alongside her fellow medics, the exhaustion was never far away. But when Everett's letters stopped arriving, she was distraught. Would this war ever end?

The Lieutenant's Girl is another excellent historical novel by Shari J. Ryan which I thoroughly enjoyed. The horrors of Pearl Harbor in 1941 is well documented but it's good to read the fictional versions which add a little extra heart to the history. Set in the war years, and 2018 as the story is told, it's well executed. I'm glad I found this author's work and am looking forward to reading more. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

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This novel has it all. Set in the lush beauty of the tropical paradise of Hawaii, it’s about a love strong enough to endure the worst of times. The lovers are torn apart by war, she a devoted nurse, he a swaggering hero off to war.
Ryan does an excellent job giving it all to readers with heartache, dread, anxiety, anticipation, and joy.
It was like a movie screen in my mind as I read. It’s a most romantic period, but also one of the most fraught filled. Ryan exhibits the intense courage people from the WWII era had, a theme that is timeless.

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Heartbreaking, hopeful and completely tragic this book was absolutely beautifully written. I loved every second of The lieutenant's girl and Shari did and amazing job of depicting what life was like in the 1940s in the time of war, as well as representing the way everyone spoke and acted during that period. You will definitely need a box of tissues for this book as I lost count of how many times I found myself on the brink of tears so run and go read The lieutenant's girl!! I cant wait to see what Shari J. Ryan writes next.

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Wow!! This story blew me away. The author has a way with words that made me swoon! Each chapter I was hooked. I had all the feels!
The story follows nurse Elisabeth Salzberg. In 2018 her grandson-in-law is interviewing her about the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Lizzie, is what she goes by, goes back in time to 1941 and begins her story when she's twenty years old. I felt every word that was written. I highly recommend!

I received a free ARC of this book from #Netgalley for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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