I read Ms. Creel’s The Magic of Ordinary Days about hardship and love during WWII in 2011 and gave it a solid four stars. When I was approved by Net Galley for an arc of Mercy Road, I was excited. Unfortunately it took me well over two months to finish. I would have tagged it ‘dnf’ but I felt obligated to read the narrative.

Though the plot showed promise, the characters were two-dimensional. It was one of those stories where the author told but did not show. There was too much going on. Thoughts and details were spelled out but I never cared for any of the characters.

It began with a tragedy on a horse farm. Arlene Favier needed money to save her family’s dream. She became an ambulance driver during WWI and I was introduced to a feminist tone. She worked with an all-womens’ medical team sponsored by the Red Cross. While serving in France, she was blatantly stalked by a creepy military officer. Instead of cutting him off immediately (she knew something was seriously wrong with the guy) she continued to converse (and meet with him) numerous times. She never went to her superiors to tell them what was going on. Eventually she became aware of a plot to illegally sell Army goods. Knowing it to be dangerous, she gets involved. In the meantime, her closest acquaintance suffers from depression and has a secret. It was completely obvious to me but it took the bulk of the story for Arlene to figure it out. Lastly, there was the romance with Jimmy Tucker that felt out of place. Never once did I understand why the author introduced him. There was no chemistry. Zip, nada, zilch. Their relationship stuck out like a sore thumb. And the epilogue? Possibly dreaming? Huh?

*Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Ann Howard Creel for giving me to the chance to read her new book: Mercy Road, I was so excited to get my advanced copy, as I have enjoyed reading two of her previous books.

Arlene Favier is devastated when her family home in Paris Kentucky burns to the ground and why did her father decide to run back inside the burning house? She has no idea that her father's horse breeding farm is struggling, she's left to look after her Maman and her young brother Luc. Arlene needs to look for work to support her family, she travels to Cincinnati and she's not prepared for life on her own. She applies for the only job that she has any qualifications for, she finds a notice advertising for French speaking drivers and she's recruited to drive an ambulance for the new American Woman's Hospital in France. Her Papa was French he taught her to speak his native language and to drive a car or a small truck.

Nothing could prepare Arlene and her fellow ambulance drivers for the terrible conditions they face in France during WW I. France is a total disaster, damaged buildings, displaced civilians, food shortages and the retreating German army is destroying everything in their path. Worst of all is the terrible war injuries to both soldiers, civilians and children. The team of women American doctors have joined forces to help the war effort, they raised funds, purchased medical equipment, supplies and employed female ambulance drivers.
They want to help and they do!

Arlene forms as strong friendship with one of her fellow drivers Cass, she's older than Arlene and seems to be the obvious one to be able to cope with the terrible conditions in France during WW I. But it's not the case, Arlene is soon very concerned about her friend mental state and she's also having issues with an American officer called Felix Brohammer. He's arrogant, despite Arlene making it very clear she's not interested in him he continues to believe they're in a relationship and Arlene is just playing hard to get?

Arlene is very focused on her job, she's working very long hours driving the ambulance, they have to be constantly on guard at all times, the roads are full of pot holes, driving conditions change due to the weather and the Germans shooting at them.

Amongst the chaos Arlene is very happy to see a familiar face from home, Jimmy Tucker, he worked for her father doing odd jobs around the farm and her snobby mother didn't like them being friends.
Soon she and Jimmy are fighting their obvious attraction to each other, the issues Arlene is having with Felix Brohammer escalates and it all gets way out of hand.

Arlene makes a choice to protect her friend, has she lost all she's been working hard for by not speaking up about the nasty Felix Brohammer and has this effected her romantic relationship with Jimmy?
Mercy Road is a story about how during WW I women's roles changed, their courage, their bravery, their dedication to each other and their country.

I loved the book, I gave it 4 stars and Ann Howard Creel is one of my favorite author's.
I highly recommend reading Mercy Road, The Magic Of Ordinary Days and While You Were Mine.

I enjoyed reading this book because it made me more aware of the role American women had in the First World War. It had suspense, drama ,sadness and happiness which kept me reading. It was easy to read. I recommend it to be read.

Thank you NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author Ms. Ann Howard Creel for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy of "Mercy Road"

An unexpected historical fiction story that takes us to the front lines of the war to end all wars.

WWI story told with a strong tour de force of female characters.
"Arlene", a young Victorian girl, finds herself the main breadwinner after the death of her father in a tragic fire that took everything.
Unable to find work locally, no one will hire her...Victorian times were hard times for women, especially single ones...Arlene answers an ad for "French Speaking" women and the stage is set for a life of unexpected events.

Arlene gets the job, trains as an ambulance driver, and then heads to Paris France to work alongside female doctors rescuing wounded soldiers from the front.

Fraught with the horrors of war, loves lost, and secrets that cast shadows far into the future, this is an extraordinary story based on true events!

5 stars

Adored this book! Love, courage, and hope flowed throughout. The research put into this one was incredible. Highly recommend

`Mercy road` is a well written and captivating book. It is an easy reading, but the book offers a lot of information about the WWI and the way American women involved in order to save lives.
I liked the way of caring the author built her characters: Arlene - an orphan, from a family well seen in society, she is brave, honest, hardworking and virtuous; Jimmy - an orphan, sincere, tender, persevering, gentle and altruistic peasant; Brohammer - American captain, who takes advantage of his status to get rich in unfair ways; he is selfish, narcissistic, arrogant and stubborn.
The writer always keeps the reader in tension. Although the ending is easy to predict, during reading you never know what the author has decided to do with her characters.
What I don't like is the fact that the book does not have something unique. The author respects a recipe: a young girl has to fight for her family, because a disastrous event shattered the family's harmony; she meets the boy her mother forbade her to have as suitor, but now she realizes that he is the one. Of course there are impediments on the road, but at the end all is well.

I love novels inspired by true stories and this one did not disappoint. It tells the story of American women driving Ambulances in France during WWI. A highly educational and entertaining read. I enjoyed it.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

This was an excellent story about a group of WWI all female group of ambulance drivers and doctors. Arlene Favier applies for the job after her father passes away which leads to a story of wonderful women who knowingly put themselves in harms way to make a difference.

This was a very well written story in terms of day to day life in war-torn France until the end of the war and I thought the story of this time was very well written and atmospheric. The characters were mostly very well written except I got more o a friendship than a romance vibe with Jimmy, but I didn't choose to read this for a romance. There's a villain too who is suitably obnoxious. All in all, a good read on a role women played during WWI.

I am pleased I read this book, based on the true story of a group of female ambulance drivers during WW1. These stories about unsung heroes of the war are really important for education and inspiration purposes and I hope to read more books like this in the future. Mercy Road featured one of the most gripping opening chapters of a book that I have read in a long time. I thoroughly enjoyed Arlene's journey into independence and into the war with all the horrors she faces there. The only thing that disappointed me with this book was the central romance between Arlene and Jimmy. The beginning of their love felt rushed and unbelievable and it was a shame that the romance element dominated most of the second half of the book. Jimmy was underdeveloped as a character and seemed quite dull and one-dimensional so their relationship didn't engage me at all. I would have liked to have seen more detail about Arlene's work and to have known more about Cass too who was a fascinating character.
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderful story of love, survival and heroism among those who ferried soldiers from the front to medical care! Ann Creel's latest book is based on the women drivers and doctors who went to Europe during WW1 to rescue wounded soldiers from the front and get them to hospitals.

Arlene Favier is a young woman in Paris, Kentucky. She has her life all mapped out; she will work with her father on their horse farm and eventually take over the business. One terrible night her home burns to the ground and her father is killed, leaving Arlene to support the family. This is not an easy task for a young woman in 1916, as she discovers when she looks for work. Then she learns about the call for women ambulance drivers and signs up.

As she drives the ambulance she sees the horror of war, corruption among officers, brutality from the enemy and the devastating cost to civilians. She also meets the love of her life.

Reading Mercy Road was in a way like reading the journal of Arlene's life; I felt as if I was there with her, experiencing the terror of war and the heartbreak of love. Arlene is tested over and over but doesn't break. There are a few moments that seem a bit silly, but overall Mercy Road is a wonderful book.

I do not remember learning much about women and their roles in either of the World Wars in History class. I am so thankful that more books are coming out that delve into what they did.
The fact there was an American Women’s Hospital in France that received little assistance but HIGH expectations for services was something I knew nothing about until oh July 2019.
Ann Howard Creel does a wonderful job of taking Arlene Favier from Kentucky and putting her in the middle of actual events and places. Arlene came from Kentucky where her family has lost their patriarch and the money they thought they had. Arlene must save her mother and her brother and finds a chance that means going to France.
There is definitely a romance portion of the story but I found the detail to their tasks, the fights they had to be SEEN and respected, the imagery of "The war to end all wars", and the friendships these women from all socioeconomic classes was what drew me in the most.
I would recommend and thank Netgalley for the ARC!

This was a GREAT read , Loved it so Much .
The author writing style as well as her character-building are Amazing .
In my opinion , It is the perfect historical fiction .

I am a huge fan of Historical Fiction, especially surrounding the World Wars, and I really enjoyed this book - mostly. I was drawn in immediately by the story, as the action starts on the very first line. And its a true story! However, the writing style is a bit cut and dry more like a nonfiction book is. It doesn't hurt the story much, but I think it does prevent you from "connecting" to the characters as much as you might expect to. Otherwise it is a great read and I would still recommend it to anyone interested in the genre!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed Mercy Road. Although it initially seemed like a typical young girl "saves the farm," by the time she very quickly got to France I was hooked. I now would like to see how Arlene fares later in life, attempting to save the horse farm.

Net Galley gave me this book to read,you would never know what hardships these women faced during a war and a hospital outside. History in the making,well researched and love and miss and joy you will find in this book! It's a very much to read book and enjoyed this one of many stories during this time in history!

I loved the book, it was interesting, exciting, romantic and tragic all in one book. The Woman's hospital helped both soldiers and citizens. The conditions were bad and emotions were high and sometimes overcame. I had never heard of this service and these brave women and it was an inspiration to me to read about their courage.

Arlene was devastated when their house burned on their horse ranch with her father inside. It left them practically penniless and she knew she had to find work to help support her mother and her brother. She applied for a job advertising for French speaking drivers and ended up driving an Ambulance for the American Woman's Hospital in France during World War I.

She never expected to see the conditions she saw and how it affected her fellow drivers. She tried to help her friend Cassie overcome her anxiety and in doing so put herself and her friend Jimmy in jeopardy. She never expected to meet Jimmy in France and to be involved in the intrigue with Captain Brohammer.

I love the ending, I thought it was a good ending for a good book. I would definitely recommend this book.

Based on a true story, Arlene Favier suffers a terrible tragedy. Trying to keep her family provided for, she moves to a new town seeking work. Having learned French from her father, she is accepted as a French speaking ambulance driver, and only realizes later, she will be part of the first woman medical team from the United States, sent to France to aid in WWI.
While this was not Arlene’s first choice to see Paris, she makes the most of her wartime visit.
The author does a good job describing the frustrations of women at the fronts. The danger, horrors, and reactions to this barbaric work.
Arlene is faced with an egotistical American Captain who refused to accept no as an answer. Then there is a danger that lurks for Arlene. Lastly, enter Arlene running into the boy from back home.
I highly recommend this book for anyone with an interest in history.

I enjoyed this book because it exposed me to sights and sounds in World War 1 through the eyes and ears of a young woman just beginning her adulthood in the midst of tragedy all around her.
The story really centralizes around the main character, Arlene Favier, and her growth as a woman needing to rise and support her family. At times I wondered if Arlene was really within the time place of this story because her character acted and spoke more like a 21st century woman. Parts of the novel seemed a little like a diary entry or log and were descriptive to the point of dryness, but I did finish the story and ultimately enjoy it. I loved the outcome.

Ann Howard Creel is a new author for me and I very much enjoyed her book, Mercy Road. This is set in France during WWI and Ms. Creel’s writing brings you right into the action. I was transported to that time through descriptive writing. The characters were well developed and I was drawn in by the sights and sounds of this wartime era and the courage it took for the people involved, especially the women. I enjoy stories of strong, courageous and determined women and Ms. Creel did not disappoint in this book. The flow of the story was quite good and kept my attention through till the end. This is a very delightful historical fiction novel.

A book of loss and war. When Arlene's father is killed in their house fire, they discover that there was no money in the bank. She sets off to Cincinnati to find work and becomes an ambulance driver for the American Womens Hospital in war torn France. It is 1918 and the sights she sees - and is part of - are horrifying.

Loved it.

I read a free advance review copy. This review is voluntary, honest and my own views.