Frontline Angel

Frontline Angel by Genevieve Jordayne starts in 1939 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Elizabeth “Eliza” O’Grady has important news to tell her parents, but she is not sure how to break the news. Eliza heads down to dinner and is surprised to see her beau, Steven Howard at the table. Steven has a surprise for Eliza. He proposes marriage much to her surprise (and to her parent’s delight). But, Eliza is not ready to settle down. Eliza has completed her nursing training and, due to the depression, has not been able to find a job locally. Eliza has signed up with the Army Nursing Corp (she had planned to tell her parents at dinner). She has dreamed of traveling and adventure. Eliza turns down Steven’s proposal and breaks the news to her parents. Eliza spends two years stateside and then gets her dream assignment in the Philippines (Manila). Eliza falls in love with this tropical island and quickly settles in. Eliza is working at Sternberg Hospital one evening when some drunk soldiers stumble in. Private First Class James Marshall (Jimmy) and his friend, Corporal Jonathon “Reese” Moretti. Reese and Eliza are instantly attracted to each other and thus begins their relationship. Then the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor. The war rapidly spreads to the Philippines, and Eliza’s dream assignment turns into a nightmare. Eliza will need her wits about her to survive the next three years on the Japanese occupied island. To see how Eliza fares during the war along with Reese you will need to read Frontline Angel.

Frontline Angel was very good. Genevieve Jordayne does a superb job at capturing the time and place (the events that happened to the nurses and soldiers at the hands of the Japanese Imperial Army). I have read many non-fiction books on the subject, and Ms. Jordayne does a great job at handling this terrible time in history. It is tragic what the nurses endured. Frontline Angel is well-written and has a good main character in Eliza. The women of the Army Nursing Corp are often overlooked in the history books. I give Frontline Angel 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). I just felt there was too much romance (and sex scenes) in the first part of the book (after Eliza and Reese meet). It took away from an otherwise wonderful novel (if not for that section I would have given the book 5 stars). Frontline Angel will take you through the full range of emotions (happy, sad, angry). I enjoyed the ending the author gave to the novel. If you enjoy novels set during World War II, I recommend you read Frontline Angel.

4 Stars

This was a very good book. I have never given much thought to the nurses on the frontline of a war before.

We start the novel in the Philippines where Eliza gets shipped as a new nurse in the army. From there we learn of the daily tasks and duties of the nurses. Then the Japanese arrive.

Well written and plotted, this book is very good.

It does however seem to belong more to the YA genre than adult.

Thank you to Netgalley and Black Rose Writing for their permission to read this book.

I received a copy of this book complimentary from the publisher through NetGalley and the thoughts on the novel are strictly my own.

This book is a work of historical fiction but would also be considered a romance novel by all sense of the genre. With that said, it is one of the best written books I have read. The development of the plot and characters is outstanding; set against the backdrop of the atrocities of war.

This book bringing to light the heroics of an under recognized group of women and brings home the real terrors faced by men and women in the Pacific Battle. I have read extensively about World War II however; my knowledge and exposure to the Pacific front was minimal. I thought the author did a great job using history to help educate the readers while making the plot flow through the historical references. Often times with historical fiction, authors go into the weeks when discussing the facts but that was not the case with this book. The author did an excellent job of making it flow seamlessly.

Overall a great read for anyone that likes history, romance, or WWII novels.

It seems odd to call this a historical romance, given that it is set in the horror of a WWII prison camp but that's what it is. Eliza is a very brave woman who you will root for, even as she experiences some awful things. This is a well written fast read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'd like to see more from Jordayne.

Genevieve Jordayne does a great job telling Eliza's story in Frontline Angel. Eliza's growth from a naive young lady to a woman with grit and determination in the face of adversity makes this book wonderful. It is nice to read a book about women POWS that is centered on the Pacific Theater. I love the storyline of Eliza and Reese finding love in paradise only to have it continue just as strong in war.

Frontline Angel was by far one of my favorite nurse books! The details in describing the atmosphere were excellent. I loved how the book was historical, but also how the main character had a chance to fall in love and have a happy ending.

One of my fav. genres is WWII historical fiction. This is the first book I read from a medical perspective, in particularly a female nurse. Of all the books I've read about this subject, I never knew that doctors, nurses, and other medical people were interred in Japanese prison camps during WWII>
Great book!

Eliza had thought long and hard what she wanted to do with her life now all she had to do was tell her parents, Three years ago Eliza had told her parents she was leaving the farm to go to nursing school. Her parents had felt a lot of things nursing was not proper for a young lady to do. No doubt they wanted her to settle down and marry and stay close to the farm. They had even hinted at her becoming a teacher at a local school. Eliza had always been the adventurous one of the family. Eliza had also been a tomboy growing up. Eliza’s current boyfriend was Steven Howard. Eliza had known Steven since grade school. Eliza and Steven took walks together and he was very kind to Eliza. Sometimes Steven would steal a couple of kisses. Eliza would talk of travel while Steven talked of modernizing the family store when he took over it. He didn’t seem to understand why Eliza had to leave and go to nursing school but they had managed a long distance relationship while she was away. One day when Eliza was looking through a nursing journal she saw an ad for the Army Nursing Corp. The ad promised travel, excitement, and a real salary. After talking to one of her trusted instructors and a couple of girls in her class Eliza enlisted in the United States Army. But first Eliza had to tell her family. Eliza knew her family would not understand the burning desire she felt to practice medicine and healing. Eliza knew how much her care was needed no matter how small the task. Not only did the Army Nursing Corp answer Eliza’s need for healing it gave her a chance to give back to her country. Eliza had to leave for her first post in Fort Riley, Kansas in two weeks. Then Steven was there when Eliza had decided to tell her family about having enlisted in the Army. Then Steven went on one knee and proposed. Eliza just burst out with telling them she had joined the Army. After Eliza went for a walk with Steven and tried to explain. She then realized she loved Steven as a friend and that was all even though they had dated for four years. Eliza didn’t feel the passion or desire to stay and become his wife. Two years later Eliza was at the ocean that she had wanted to see. Eliza found she made a good surgical nurse. Eliza was now stationed in Manila in the Philippines. Then she sent her mom a letter telling her where she was her mother replied with a panicked answer that her daughter was going to be in a war. Eliza felt she was ready for whatever came her way. Manila was like Paradise but once Pearl Harbor was bombed everything changed and life was anything but heaven, The nurses are moved after the U S surrenders to the Japanese Army. The nurses have been put in an internment camp and treated horribly. There is not enough food and the nurses have to hope the won’t get the diseases running through the camp while also taking care of people with little medical supplies. Eliza had feelings for a banker “ Reese” Moretti. Eliza did make it through the camp and eventually was taken back to the states.
This was a great story with great writing and a great plot. It’s a must read book if you want to know about the brave women that were nurses in the Philippines at the time of WWII. There are several twists and turns during this story. This story is very realistic even though a novel. I highly recommend you read this and I feel you won’t regret it.

Frontline Angel is a beautiful heartbreaking story taking place during World War II between a nurse and a soldier in the Pacific Theater. I had such a hard time writing a review for this book as it almost hurt to think about it. The ups and downs between you the hero and the heroine is romantic although painful. I was on the edge of my seat wondering if one or both would not make it through the war or if they would even be together if they did. This writer is to be commended for weaving a tale of suspense intrigue and romance. This will be a go to book for me and I highly recommended what's 5 + Stars.

I have finally read 'Frontline Angel' and what an excellent story. Only wished that i had read it much sooner! One of the best WW2 stories that i have read in quite a while. Recommended.