Date of Publication: June 22, 2022
My Rating: 5 Stars
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 enjoy my YouTube video review -
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Shari J. Ryan is a USA Today Bestselling Author of Women’s Fiction, WWII Fiction, and 20th Century Historical Fiction with a focus on the Holocaust and Pearl Harbor.
Shortly after graduation from Johnson & Wales with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, Shari began her career as a graphic artist and freelance writer. She then found her passion for writing books in 2012 after her second son was born. Shari has been slaying words ever since.
With two Rone Awards and over 125k books sold, Shari has hit the USA Today Bestseller List, the Amazon's Top 100, Barnes & Noble's Top Ten, and iBooks at number one. Some of Shari’s bestselling books include Last Words, The Other Blue Sky, Unspoken Words and A Heart of Time.
Shari, a lifelong Boston girl, is happily married to her personal hero and US Marine and has two wonderful little boys. For more details about her books, visit:
www.sharijryan.com
Social Media
Thank you so much for this beautiful review of The Lieutenant's Girl. Your words mean so much to me and I'm so thankful for the time you spent creating this video. I wish I could give you a giant hug! xoxo - Shari
ReplyDelete