I received this audiobook ARC from NetGalley.

I really enjoy any historical fiction or first hand accounts of WWII.

What is different about this story line is that it focuses on three nurses that are serving in the Pacific theater.

Many time people do not think of the nurses, doctors and aids that took care of wounded service members during the war.

I enjoyed the narrators of this audiobook - sometimes that will make or break it for me.

The focus is this book is friendship and love during the war. Many books from this genre focus on Europe, but this has a different and unique perspective. It also tell the story of the first female POW’s of the war, which again, is a unique perspective.

I enjoyed the three main characters and their varied backgrounds. I liked that this book is based on first hand accounts and I think that gives it more substance than just a random retelling of what could have happened during the war.

I also like this book was a collaboration between three authors.

I recommend this audiobook and I want to purchase the book to read again in book format.

This is definitely a good audio book. The narrator's voice is perfect for this story. I really like how the author introduces the three main characters and how they all met. It's a very beautiful story from start to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars

Working as a military nurse in Manilla, in early 1941 seemed like a dream post at least it did for newbie U.S. Navy nurse Eleanor Lindstrom and her two best friends, U.S. Army nurse Penny Franklin, and Filipina nurse Lita Capel. Everything changed the day Pearl Harbor was attacked, the women were inundated with injured Americans and the Philippines became a battle ground for Japan, eventually falling under its control. Even though they became separated, serving at various hospitals, became some of the first female prisoners of war, and suffered horrific conditions they never lost their friendship or their hope in a brighter future.

This historical fiction was told through the point of views of the three women and was written by three of the genres best writers: Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris and Susan Meissner. I found this to be a very interesting way to tell the story as each character had a separate voice. I have enjoyed many historical fiction novels centered around WWII but this was a fresh perspective on a group of women I had never read about before. Their stories are captivating and heartbreaking and needed to be told in such an exemplary way.

I had the audio version read by Saskia Maarleveld who did an extraordinary job capturing the three women and their individual story.

Audiobook received for free through NetGalley

I’m so glad I came across this audiobook. I was swept up in the characters and their perseverance. Written extremely well and liked the narrator too.

A remarkable story that follows 3 nurses as their lives are forever changed.
This historical fiction is one that will stay with for forever. The story is a beautiful yet sad at times to see what the women and others went through as prisoners of war. The stories of Eleanor Linstrom, Penny Franklin, and Lita Capel are extraordinary and truly shows how amazing all nurses are.

Three women, Eleanor, Penny and Lita, become great friends as they are nurses in the US military. But, things change quickly in the Philippines as WWII rages around them. They become prisoners of war under the Japanese Army. Every day is a day filled with terror, hunger and death.

A lot of the books set in this time period of WWII are about the tragedy of the Jews. But, you forget how awful the Japanese were. This book brings that to light. And let me tell you, it is heartbreaking in so many places. I could not stop listening to it.

What these women went through…and I do believe the authors softened their mistreatment! The strength and resilience of these characters will have you cheering in one breath and crying in the next!

The narrator, Saskia Maarleveld, is amazing! She kept the emotions at just the right tone and all the voices…WOW! What a fantastic job!

Need an intense, emotional historical fiction you will not soon forget…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I enjoy reading historical fiction stories about World War II and this one did not disappoint! It was a piece of the war that I haven't read about before; being near Pearl Harbor and nurses on base being put in camps and still having to provide nursing services in such an impacted way. The bravery of the men and women that were put through such horrible events always amazes me. This was written well with good characters! 4 stars!!!

I know World War ll novels are plentiful, but I will always be willing to try them, especially if they cover lesser known aspects of the war. Thank you again to NetGalley for the opportunity to review the audiobook, When We Had Wings. I’ve read and loved all of Ariel Lawhon’s novels, and I know Susan Meissener is beloved in the historical fiction genre, so I was very excited to read their collaboration with Kristina McMorris. 
 
This novel follows the story of three nurses, one from the American army, one from the American Navy and one from the Philippine Army, who meet in Manila just before Japan’s attacks on Pearl Harbor. The women are soon taken as the first female POW and continue to serve as nurses in different Japanese run internment camps in the Philippines. The situations are dire as starvation, disease and lack of supplies make their jobs nearly impossible. These women are known in history as “The Angels of Battan”, and I have never before heard their story.  
 
For as emotionally charged as the content was, I found the overall story to be a little slow, but I’m attributing much of that to the narration. I think I would have preferred a print copy for better orientation to time and location. (Is there a petition I can sign to clearly label chapters of audiobooks when multiple POV are involved?) Overall, a solid story and one that fans of the subject and genre will enjoy.  
 
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

FAVORITE THING ABOUT BOOK: It is wonderful to read a WWII historical fiction book that centers of the Philippines.

PROS/CONS OF WRITING: The writing is outstanding. The three characters stories are told simultaneously so that they are interwoven even though the characters may not be physically present in the same part of the Philippines for an extended period. The narration is perfect for the story. The listener finds themselves involved in the action and forgetting that they are listening to an audiobook.

WHO WOULD ENJOY THIS BOOK: Historical fiction lovers; People looking for WWII stories placed in other areas such as the Philippines.


I received an ARC from Harper Muse through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

A sweeping saga about WW2 nurses in the Philippines as told through the stories of three women. Penny, a US Army nurse, Eleanor, a US Navy nurse and Lita a Filipina nurse who works at the Army hospital. Set during some of the most fearsome fighting during the war, all three endure horrendous conditions working in the tunnels of Corregidor, the bombed out city of Manila, and as POW’s living under cruel and inhumane treatment by the Japanese. Despite the hardship and deprivation, all 3 women find strength and solidarity in each other and men they encounter. Heartbreaking and engrossing, WhenThey Had Wings opens up a little known chapter in history in a deeply personal and emotional manner. I loved this book but I was wrung out at the end.

This story sheds light on a piece of American history that is not in the history books. It’s important that these stories are told. The blend of the three main characters’ journeys gives a fantastic view into the various experiences of the Angels of Bataan.

Three stories by three authors woven into one book. This sounds like it would be confusing but the story flows so smoothly that it's difficult to tell where one author ends and the other begins. . Three women who are nurses in the military during World War II are all captured and held hostage after the invasion of the Manila Bay in the Philippines. When We Had Wings gives such an in-depth and startling realistic view of what women went through, not only as medical professionals, but as prisoners of war. It was the first time that women were held as prisoners and America wasn't sure how to react. There was very little preparation for these women. They survived on instinct and their desire to help others. They did not give up! I personally think this book would be a great required reading for a history class. Especially with women's rights being questioned right now. This book shows the strength and power of women in the most difficult of times. I highly recommend reading it and passing it to your daughters.
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from Netgalley.

A nice addition to the historical fiction world. Provides a different viewpoint of WWII that most may not have seen before. The characters are well developed NS the storylines work well together.

This book! I am a historical fiction lover at heart and with these three incredible authors it couldn’t have been any better! I listened on audio (highly recommend) and loved hearing the story come to life! As a nurse myself I love books with nurses as characters and the three nurses in this book were exceptional. A little known aspect of WWII, this is a must read for historical fiction lovers and really anyone who loves a good story with strong female characters. Phenomenal!

When We Had Wings by Ariel Lawton, Kristina McMorris, Susan Meissner was so enjoyable to read! I have been suggestion it to all my bookish friends who love historical fiction.

This was a different story then I had ever read before when it comes to WWII.

I always find it interesting reading about nurses in WWII. I guess that’s bc I am a nurse and I always wonder man would I be tough enough to do what they did? How they had such limited supplies and we cry when we don’t have saline readily available…

I have read books by McMorris before but not the other two authors. I’ll def be checking them out!

I got so emotional reading about the weak new mothers and their new babies.

The narrator Saskia Maarleveld is always a job to listen to!!

I’ve read plenty of World War 2 books, and I don’t think I’ve read anything about the war in the Philippines. I felt like I learned so much from When We Had Wings. There was so much death on these islands, and the brave women faced so many horrors as the Americans surrendered and the Japanese forces came in. ⁣
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It isn’t all grim though. There’s friendship, compassion, and romance. And the women never gave up hope, which is a recurrent theme throughout the book, or stopped trying to heal others.
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The authors voices blended seamlessly together and I forgot I was reading a book by three different authors. I read this on both audio and a physical book, and would recommend either format. ⁣I thought the middle did slow down a bit, which was when I was glad I had the audio version. But I read the last 70 pages because I wanted to savor them, and cried over basically every chapter from that point on (from sorrow and joy).

Thank you to Harper Muse and TLC Book Tours for my copy of the book!

"Here is the truth: General Douglas MacArthur allowed these women to be taken captive."

Let that sink in for a minute. Add that to the fact that almost no one knows about their sacrifices and you have a travesty.

Lawhon, McMorris, and Meissner have given readers a gift with this collaboration. This book brings awareness to the oft overlooked and forgotten sacrifices and heroism of the women (and men) who served in the South Pacific during WWII. While the authors chose to use fictional characters to portray the struggles of the nurses stationed in the Philippines, their experiences were based on real women.

Nurses chose to serve in the Navy for various reasons. They were from all walks of life. This story gives us three women who were looking to find answers on how to move forward. Each had suffered a heartbreak. Upon meeting they discovered how powerful friends could be in times of difficulty. When war came to their door, the need for friends became all that more important as they struggled to find hope and courage to beat the odds.

This book was both heartbreaking and inspiring. It was surreal learning the extent of what happened to those nurses. Despite MacArthur's choices and the depravity each was forced to endure EVERY SINGLE NURSE survived the war and made it home.

I received a copy of this title via NetGalley.

WOW. I did not want this book to end. I listened to the Audiobook and it was so well done.

I did not know anything about the Angels of Bataan. This book tells the story of 3 of the women. It is based on a true story. I love that it has so much history in it on the Philippines in WWII that I did not know about.

It's heartbreaking, inspiring, rewarding and so much more. These women went though so much, gave so much and forged a lifetime of friendships.

I do not want to spoil any of it for anyone, but I highly recommend it.

Thanks to Harper Muse and NetGalley for providing a free audio ARC to listen to and review!

A unique perspective of a heartbreaking WWII story.

We are all mostly familiar with the German atrocities and oppressions during WWII. But When We Had Wings chooses to bring the spotlight on three nurses who served in The Philippines, where the Imperial Japanese Army battled for control.

Thanks NetGalley and Harper muse for providing me access to audiobook.

Synopsis –

Based on the true story of nurses known as “Angels of Bataan”, we follow US Navy nurse Eleanor Lindstrom, US Army nurse Penny Franklin & Filipina nurse Lita Capel, who become friends in what they deem as their “Paradise” mission. But when Japan attacks Pearl Harbor in Dec 1941, the paradise quickly turns to hell as they are forced to serve under combat conditions & as POWs.


Review -

As we keep switching between the POVs of the three nurses, their backgrounds, the circumstances that led them to take up a far-away assignment and the general attitudes towards the work they do are introduced. I could connect to all the three women and loved how quickly they bonded and forged wonderful friendships.

The audio worked so great for me to visualise the story. Saskia Maarleveld's narration is lined with all the emotional spectrum with perfect pacing.

As tables are turned, it was so sad to see them getting separated, having to deal with the war on their own, amidst impossible living conditions. The longing they felt for knowing their friends’ well-being, the lack of communication and the way they got shifted around the island mercilessly was indeed miserable.

The kind of tyranny and brutality the Japanese inflicted over The Philippines is simply horrendous. Even innocent civilians aren’t spared, as they are herded into crowded internment camps.

The nurses lives are unimaginable - being short staffed, they have to deal with overflowing patients, food and medicine shortages, rampant diseases like dysentery, malaria all while working long hours and fighting these illnesses themselves. The only silver lining was their budding love lives, which gave them a reason to smile and keep going.

It was a bit hard to keep track of each of them over several locations and while the plot does not involve much of action I expect from HF, I came to appreciate the resilience and resourcefulness of these nurses.
The dedication towards their duties, hard-work and honesty in the face of war induced inhumanity are truly commendable.

The authors deserve credit for all the research and meticulous planning that has gone into this book, highlighting this lesser known part of WWII history.

This is a story that needs to be told and read by everyone who likes the genre.

A different WWII story. It's the story of the three women and their struggles during the war. They are all nurses stationed in the Phillippines and over the course of several years they are separated and reunited and face all of the atrocities of the Japanese who have captured them.

I loved each of the women's stories and I loved the friendship and protection that they all afford each other. I have been a fan of all three author's book separately and this collaboration is excellent.

I listened to audio version of this book and really enjoyed the narration. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the advanced copy of this book. I highly highly recommend this story!!!