Title:  Mercy Road
Author:  Ann Howard Creel
Genre:  Historical fiction
Rating:  4 out of 5

In 1917, Arlene Favier’s home burns to the ground one night. Her father dies in the fire, leaving Arlene to care for her mother and brother and try to rebuild the family’s horse-breeding business. Arlene is determined, but jobs are scarce, especially for women. Until she gets the opportunity to join the American Women’s Hospital as an ambulance driver.

Soon Arlene is part of a trailblazing all-women team of doctors, nurses, and drivers headed to war-torn France. Arlene must work day and night dodging bombs and shells to help civilians and soldiers escape the horrors of war. Somehow, she has caught the attention of Felix Brohammer, a captain who charms everyone he meets—except Arlene, who sees darkness in the man’s eyes. 

Arlene also finds Jimmy, a childhood friend who makes her feel things she never imagined. But she’ll have to risk everything—and everyone she loves—to find out the truth about Felix. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical tale. The courage and bravery of this team of women stuns me. I cannot imagine how much strength it would take to not only work on the front lines of war, but to do so while fighting centuries of tradition and rules preventing women from doing so. Arlene’ strength and determination shine through on every page, and her love for those around her motivates everything she does. Definitely worth reading.

Ann Howard Creel is an award-winning author. Mercy Road is her newest novel. 

(Galley courtesy of Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

Wartime Intrigue. This is yet another Lake Union book dealing with the Great War this year, and this one presents a few wrinkles other similar efforts have not - which is always welcome by this wide ranging reader. Very solid work, from the setup in rural Kentucky through the bulk of the tale in France and through the conclusion of the tale. Presents its various topics in a very period-appropriate setting while also using them to discuss larger issues. Great story, my first from this author - and won't be my last. Very much recommended.

Favier Farms has a reputation for race-winning Thoroughbreds and the French-born master of the manor a special knack for finding the best. Unfortunately, a fire levels the house he and his wife lovingly built and where Arlene Favier and her brother Luc were raised. It is after the devastating fire that also kills her father they discover the truth of the finances. 

Desperate for employment to keep family and farm together, Arlene discovers an unusual opportunity for a woman in 1918. Owing to her father teaching her French and how to drive, Arlene will ship over to the last vestiges of the great war in France to drive an ambulance for the American Women's Hospital Services.

What follows is a narrative into the war-torn country now covered with destruction and desolation, ashes and shell-pocked country roads. The group Arlene arrives with gradually begin the acclimation but it takes a huge toll on the women.

Arlene is fairly well developed, although not all support characters are. She is quickly pursued by US officer Brohammer and rejects his advances according to rules, but he is having none of it. In the meantime, she discovers a childhood friend likewise driving an ambulance. A reigniting proceeds between herself and Jimmy and the ensuing romance pops back and forth into the storyline.

Written in first person through Arlene, the story is well-plotted and the pace even albeit slowed somewhat by the irrational interest of the narcissistic officer and the romance with Jimmy. I enjoyed the informational bits of the ambulance, the countryside, the people of France, the description of the missions and the reacquainting of the flu epidemic. The climax came with a sinking heart. Still, the author weaves a plausible concluding scenario with most loose threads neatly tied. 

I received this ARC from the publisher through NetGalley and greatly appreciated the opportunity to read and review. And BTW, I absolutely love that cover! Recommended for any who enjoy historical fiction (based on the true story), WWI narratives, and positive achievements by women.

3.5 stars rounded up

The story begins in 1917 after Arlene's family home burns to the ground, taking her father with it. In an effort to step up and support her family, she joins the ambulance drivers for the American Women's Hospital to work with a team of doctors and nurses in World War I France.

Arlene navigates her role in the war and in entering her own adulthood. She is forced to face the harsh realities of the workforce and in war, and is determined to do everything in her power to make a difference for the better. She meets Felix Brohammer, a conceded army captain who has set his eyes on Arlene, and will stop at nothing to pursue her affections. When Arlene continues to snub him, Brohammer's determination to win her over becomes a sinister obsession Arlene stumbles upon an unsettling secret of Brohammer's and treads carefully in an effort to expose him.

Mercy Road was a well written and heartwarming story. I wished for more history and her involvement in the war than in the drama of creepy Brohammer (even though he made for a notable villain). But what was lacking in the elements of wartime, made up for in a nice little romance when Arlene is reunited with a friend from back home.

Mercy Road by Ann Creel is an amazing story about the women ambulance drivers during WWI. I was impressed with the amount of research that the author did as she shared a list of books she used for research in the back of her book. I had a great uncle who shared some of his stories with me of his experiences in WWI. When he was one hundred years old, he shared  That his job was to drive a truck loaded with lumber to the front line in France. The lumber was used to shore up the trenches. In his face, I could see the emotion of his experiences. I kept seeing his face as I read about Arlene, Cass, the wounded soldiers, in Mercy Road.

The story starts out with Arlene’s home being engulfed in fire. Besides the loss of her father, her family is left penniless due to poor business decisions of her father, She travels to Cincinnati to find work to hell support her family. The job she finds is an ambulance driver in France. She speaks French and this helped her get a job. 

This book demonstrates the horrors of war, deep friendships formed during very difficult times, and also a romance. Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A great read that had you gripped from the very first page.
It has a social commentary about women’s place in society at the beginning of the 20th century and especially those brave women who went out to France as ambulance drivers during the First World War.
I could not put it down. In some places the story was a little predictable but it did not spoil the enjoyment.

This book drew me in and kept my attention riveted throughout.  There wasn't the kind of character development that creates a bond with this reader, but empathy for the riches to rags beginning, the desperation to find an income, then the commitment to making it through to the end of the war kept me turning pages.  I was continually eager to see how Arlene would overcome each new impediment to continue on her mission to assist in the war effort, stay alive, and return with the bonus that would quite literally save the family farm.  The romance subplots didn't pull me out of the larger plot, they just provided more conflict and suspense to the story.  This gave me a desire to read more books that feature women's contributions to the 20th century war efforts.
I requested and voluntarily read a complementary copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley and I offer my honest opinion in response

Great novel, highly recommend for those who enjoy the genre. Will be recommending for immediate purchase.

Mercy Road is a lovely fiction novel that brings to light the history of the brave women who refused to sit at home during WW1. 

While the US government denied their right to serve, the members of the American Women's Hospital were quietly working in combat zones to save the lives of enlisted men and citizens of the towns impacted by battle.  Whatever their motivation for going, these physicians, nurses, and ambulance drivers took great risks to care for the victims. 

Arlene Favier grew up in Paris, Kentucky.  Together with her French father, American mother, and younger brother Luc, they live on a horse farm where her father is a respected horse breeder.  The story opens with the double catastrophe her father's life lost in a terrible fire, along with their entire home.  She grew up riding and caring for horses, and believes she and her brother can continue the business.  While the house is destroyed, the stable and horses remain. 

The devastating revelation that they are broke, along with the loss of their social status, leaves Arlene desperate to find a solution for the family.  In 1917, it's practically impossible for a young woman to find the type of work that would enable her to support her family.  After numerous dead ends, a chance encounter with a former classmate sends her to Cincinnati in search of work.  She applies for a job as an ambulance driver and after being interviewed discovers the position is in France.  The money is too good to turn down, and the blessing is that her father had taught her how to drive a car.   

This is a story that will have you applauding the resilience of a young woman, faced with tragedy and willing to do what it takes, in order to keep her family together.  There is the horror and agony of war, and the sweet glimpses into a budding first love.  You'll see the miserable deeds of a vile and vicious man who is used to getting what ever he wants, and who plays evil when he doesn't get it.

At times, Arlene seemed very naive to me about the world, about love, and about people.  But when you consider the time the story took place, it makes sense that she would be that way.  The love story was a little sappy at the end, but still an excellent read.


Thank you @netgalley and @annhowardcreel and @lakeunionauthors for my #kindleedition #arc #MercyRoad #NetGalley

Arlene got a lot more than she bargained for when she took a job as an ambulance driver in France during WWI in order to help her family after their home burned down.  The beginning of this novel of women taking the lead is awkward, at best, but once the action moves to France it improves. Arlene meets Captain Felix Brohammer on her first day in country, a meeting that proves eventful and calamitous.  Amidst the chaos, she also reunites with Jimmy, a childhood friend who proves to be a better romantic match.  While there's a lot of romance here, Creel also gives a good sense of what the ambulance drivers did, albeit in a much cleaned up way. This is also notable for acknowledging the difficult psychological effects of war.  Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.  For fans of historical fiction.

Arlene lost her father and their house in a fire. They had far less money than they thought, so Arlene must get a job to support her mother, brother and herself. She isn't qualified to do any of the typical jobs for women at that time, such as secretarial work or factory work. She finds out about the ambulance driver position and applies for that. I knew absolutely nothing about the female ambulance drivers in WW1 before reading Mercy Road. Wow! These women were paid volunteers to set up an American hospital. The women doctors weren't even allowed to operate because the men didn't think they were qualified. I liked Arlene. She is a survivor. Her family was in a really rough situation following the fire and she took it upon herself to do what must be done. The author did a great job of creating a very believable story and at the same time, educating us on a historical event. Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

WWI and American Mercy Hospital is the background. Women still not allowed to operate in the theatre of war despite a huge demand for them so they do whatever they could to alleviate suffering.

Arlene has been brought up in a comfortable home with money and loving parents. Losing her home and her beloved father to a fire, she now finds herself bankrupt and without a roof above their heads. Leaving her brother to look after the family stud business, Arlene takes on a courageous new role of ambulance driver in France. Working in the heartland of the war, and doing the best she can in very hard circumstances she did not expect to find a stalker in the form of an American officer, who would not take no for an answer and who proved dangerous when thwarted.

The story of the officer, finding romance with someone else was just part of the story. The more important part was the role that these female American surgeons and ambulance drivers played in the War. They did an important role of bringing relief to the villagers in the perimeter of the actual action who were neglected in the bigger picture of the actual battle. On top of that they also worked with wounded soldiers, ferrying them to the camps at much personal danger to themselves.

I have not read of this service before and maybe it is a hitherto ignored part of American history. Something that has not been given much prominence maybe. Which is a pity.

The story was a good one highlighting another aspect of one of the Great Wars.

Mercy Road, by Ann Howard Creel, is the story of one young woman rebuilding her life and coming of age after enormous loss.  It is also the story of the brave women who served as ambulance drivers in France for the American Women’s Hospital during WWI.  Charged with maintaining, repairing, and driving the ambulances, these women risked their lives to transport the wounded from the front, assist villagers, and rescue the homeless and orphaned.  

Creel is an accomplished writer who is able to describe the horrific impact of this war with enough detail to make the reader cringe.  Arlene, the protagonist, is a nuanced character who matures as the story progresses.  As expected, she finds romance, but it is a very bumpy road to travel.  Also, Creel deftly weaves in the social and cultural attitudes of the time in ways that are sometimes endearing but more often disturbing.

I found this novel very interesting, and I absolutely recommend it.  Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Arlene Favier lives in Paris, Kentucky with her parents and brother. After a fire destroys their home and their father dies in the fire, the family finds that they have no money. Arlene realizes that she has to get a job and after looking all over town with no luck, she decides to try a larger town. When she answers a help wanted ad for a French speaking female, she finds out that the job is for an ambulance driver in France. World War I is going on and the job is very dangerous but with the hopes of helping out her family, she decides to accept it. Arlene becomes part of the American Women’s Hospital in war-torn France during World War I. Serving as doctors, nurses, aides, and ambulance drivers, the women struggle to be respected in a traditionally male environment. After extensive training, the women ambulance drivers are put to work and find that their training couldn't prepare them to face all of the destruction, all of the dead bodies and all of the injured people - both military and civilians. It's very difficult but Arlene is an extremely tough woman and is able to survive. When Arlene runs into an old friend from home, she finds some peace as her feelings for Jimmy grow but even though they are both ambulance drivers, they are in different parts of France so they rarely see each other. When a scandal occurs. Arlene has to decide whether she will remain quiet and keep her secrets buried or take the blame and possibly lose her job.

This was a well written book. I really enjoyed the main character of Arlene and was impressed with her strength and dedication to her job and her friends. The parts of the novel about the battlefields in France are horrific but despite all of the carnage, there is a romance for Arlene and fantastic female friendships. It's apparent that the author did a lot of research into the war but her strong female characters is what makes this book so special.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

This book was a huge disappointment. I kept reading it hoping that it would improve but unfortunately I had to give up reading it. 
This book just wasn’t for me

3.5 Stars

Mercy Road by Ann Howard Creel is a book that has a really interesting concept. The involvement of women in the First World War is not something that I have read much about before. It is so interesting and awe inspiring to learn about the American Women’s Hospital. While I enjoyed the story and the main character, the side characters are not very complex.

Arlene is a really interesting character, and considering the setting of the novel, she is well ahead of her times. She is a headstrong woman who isn’t afraid to follow her own path. This becomes clear when she leaves her family and heads off to France to help support them. I really enjoyed reading about Arlene, as she is a character who is easy to relate to.

❀ VIVID DESCRIPTIONS

Learning about the conditions of the French people and the risky situations the female ambulance drivers put themselves in is quite gripping. The descriptions that the author uses to describe the devastation and the struggles the war caused are vivid. It is very inspiring to read about these women who were on the front lines collecting injured and sick civilians.

While it is enjoyable to read Arlene’s story and her life as an ambulance driver, there are aspects of the story that are not as well-developed. There are many other women in the novel, but their stories aren’t revealed much, with the exception of Cass. That being said, Cass’s story is one that I would have liked to read more of. The women aren’t close friends, yet they share a room and a common connection as ambulance drivers. I would have liked to see this friendship evolve more than it did.

❀ INTERESTING CONCEPT

The idea that there were women on the front lines of World War I is incredible to discover. Mercy Road is an historical novel that shares some interesting aspects of the stories behind the American Women’s hospital. The concept of the novel is fascinating, but there are parts of the story that are lacking.

The premise of an all female medical team, equipped with female ambulance drivers during WW1 in France was an intriguing storyline that I wanted to learn more about.  This started off at about 4 stars and held my attention until it basically turned more into a romance novel and less about the medical contributions of the women who served during WW1.

  It turned into a 2 star book at approximately 82% of the way in when an unexpected romance twist evolved.  Although, not an unrealistic storyline, it just felt like a modern day agenda was inserted into a WW1 historical romance novel.  I didn’t feel it added anything to the plot. And, then the ending was entirely too predictable. 

Overall, too much romance and not enough historical fiction for my taste.  

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union publishing first an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

When I saw the cover for Mercy Road on NetGalley, from the same publishing house that published one of my favourite books of this year, The Beantown Girls, I knew I had to read it. Instead of being about women helping during World War II, this one was about women ambulance drivers, doctors and nurses near the end of World War I in France. I was hoping for a story that stuck with me as much as Fiona’s, and I was excited to dig right in.

I’m not sure if it’s because I had high expectations, but this story didn’t connect with me at all. I found I couldn’t relate to Arlene, I didn’t get a sense of the danger and the destruction surrounding her and her team, and I was a little disappointed in the ending—even though it was a happy one.

Let me start with the good: I definitely learned a lot about how women did what they could to join the war efforts during World War I, which is something I knew nothing about. Their bravery and dedication really did help many people survive, and they did it all while fighting the usual women-can’t-do-anything-properly vibe of the era. And as a women, I felt empowered.

Unfortunately, it kind of ends there. The side drama with Brohammer’s shadiness was interesting, but didn’t really go anywhere, and I could guess Cass’s “secret” right from the get-go. And then there was Arlene’s relationship with Jimmy. It just seemed too easy. Sure, there was something that happened that tore them apart, but it wasn’t that exciting, and they ended up together in the end anyway. He really didn’t want that, so I was disappointed that there was no compromise in their relationship in that way.

And my biggest sticking point was that there wasn’t really any damage to anyone on Arlene’s direct team of Red Cross women (unless I missed it, which is possible because I was skimming at times). All the major players survived, despite them spending time on the front line. I just didn’t find that believable.

I really, really wanted to love this. I did. But maybe I just wasn’t in the right place to dig in properly.

2 STARS

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy, in exchange for an honest review.

Mercy Road pub 19 Nov 2019

Wow, Mercy Rod was an incredible read but at times SO hard to go on. The echo of the ancient belief that homosexuality is an illness was upsetting in a way that I didn’t expect.
I absolutely love history, I would have loved to experience the luxury of the Tudors, the change of the Victorians and the World Wars intrigue me beyond explanation. But at the same time, one has to remember that as well as the riches in the higher classes, there was so much poverty too.
In Mercy Road by Ann Howard Creel, our heroine has to make difficult choices for her family after they suffer tragic loss, and goes to France towards the end of WW1. The sights she sees, the experiences she goes through and the awakening she has to face are sobering.
The thing I really loved about this book is how current it felt, despite the historic setting. The issues raised are still ones faced today: uninformed homophobia (I love how that was dealt with), men still thinking that women are just not as important and unscrupulous persons exploiting those in need.
Would recommend to anyone who enjoyed The Spitfire Girls and/of The Girls Of Pearl Harbour.

Mercy Road was an interesting book about the little known American Women's Hospital in France during WWI. After a devastating fire at her family's home and horse farm in Paris, Kentucky, Arlene goes to Cincinnati in search of a job to support her family. She can drive and needs money, and she ends up signing up as an ambulance driver for a group of women doctors and nurses going to France to help during the war. She expects to be working mostly with civilians but ends up seeing more of the results of war.
The book was a bit slow for me. I should have referenced a map of France to better understand the areas in the book. The character of Brohammer was unnecessarily evil, in my opinion, and there could have been a great story without him or with him being a bit less horrible. I loved the idea of AWH, but the book was more about Arlene and all the unpleasant things she went through.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.