Sisters April and Grace along with their best friend Poppy sign up for the US army nursing Corp and are having a whale of a time in Hawaii enjoying the party atmosphere and making friends with another nurse Eva when they are suddenly in the middle of the Pearl Harbour bombing and their lives change forever.   The story follows the nurses through the war and their posting to North Africa and the tragedies that befall them. 

Another good ww2 book by this author following the roles of women in the war, a good story with plenty of action and romance showing how they grew from girls to strong women and got through the horrors that faced them

Another great book describing the roles of American nurses in the Second World War. They had to fight not only the enemy but the prejudices against women and their roles.
We read about their struggles, secrets, love and heartache also their experiences of being on the front line.
Through the words we can just about understand the pressures they were under, the blood, sweat and tears through fiction as well as facts.

The Girls of Pearl Harbor was a wonderful novel!  I enjoyed the bonds between the women and how they were portrayed.  The story captured what the nurses experienced during the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  These women saw more injuries and death than they expected to see.  They lost some of their own special loved ones.  Along the way, they became stronger and learned to do what was needed even when it was difficult.  This was a wonderful story about women, their friendships, loves, and losses.

April and grace, two sisters working as army corps nurses in Hawaii. Who are enjoying all the adventure in the island. And they don’t know their life is going to change when Japanese army bomb peal harbor on December 7th, 1941. The bombing causes an extreme damage to the harbor, and they have destroyed building and ships. April, Grace and their new friend Eva are involved immensely with terrified patients and caught up in the battle zone. Hoping Japanese wouldn’t return and bomb the island again.
This is when USA joins its associated forces and participate the WII to fight Japanese. This is when the girl decides to move to North Africa.
Their individual life stories and emotional situations they deal every day is a making this book extremely emotional. How these girls became best friend and helped each other through this unbelievable tragedy is admirable, Soraya M, penned such a beautiful story that I as a reader sometimes felt like I was right there next to the girls 
Many thanks to Net Galley and Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC, And Soraya M. Lane for this amazing story.

Review posted on my Blog:https://bookoholicscafe.blogspot.com/2019/09/the-girls-of-pearl-harbor.html

While I agree that The Girls of Pearl Harbor was light on historical facts about the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the war, I was still able to enjoy the book. It was a remarkable novel about friendship, love, and loss sprinkled with some facts about the life of nurses stationed at Pearl Harbor. Told mostly in three alternating voices, I found each character to be likable, relatable, and easy to root for. Soraya Lane is a beautiful writer and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

I learn about history through fiction books. I was so drawn to this book and what the young nurses went through. This was an emotional read but I am glad that I was able to read this. So interesting and sad! I will definitely order this book for the library.

This was a great piece of historical fiction that not only entertained, but educated the reader!  I highly recommend it!

Wow. While reading The Girls of Pearl Harbor, I literally felt like I was right there with Grace, April, Poppy and Eva. The tragedy, the heartache, the bravery, I felt it all and I can’t imagine what it was like to actually be there living through it.

Following along with these girls and their journey through war was such an adventure. From the beautiful waters of Hawaii to the unbelievable living conditions when the Americans joined the war was such a shock.

I also think the author did an amazing job with giving you some true events mixed in with everything else. It gave me so much respect for the nurses during WWII and even the nurses that serve right now. They really do make such a difference and Lane really brought a highlight to it.

I loved watching all the characters grow while reading The Girls of Pearl Harbor. They were forced to be strong, to stand their ground and become women who have to make tough, quick decisions.

My love for historical fiction just keeps growing and growing and not only was this a great historical fiction novel but it also had lots of drama and even hints of romance which you know is just all together my cup of tea!

So if you’re looking for a great historical fiction novel with a little bit of jazz then The Girls of Pearl Harbor is for you! I defiantly recommend it.

I am a WWII junkie.   I devour every book I can find that tells the story of the heroes of this time.   A story written about the women of the war is always a must-read for me.   The Girls of Pearl Harbor is a story about the nurses stationed in Hawaii before and then during the bombing of Pearl Harbor.   It is the story of what happens to the friendships formed, the relationships made, and the lives of those who are now in an active war.    

Grace, April, and Poppy join the US Army Navy Corps with the idea that it will be an adventure and a vacation in Hawaii.   Little did they know that they would be part of one of the biggest parts of WWII and become part of history.    I was amazed at the friendship between them, the strength that kept them together in good and tough times was wonderful.   While reading you knew that these three would do anything for each other.  

As the story continues on and after December 7th their friendship is put to tests, their love for each other never waivers, and they face life in a world that is so different than what they expected.  I was so into their story that it felt like I was working right next to them in the military hospitals.   I was able to picture the horrific things that they were forced to deal with and able to feel the wide range of feelings the ladies went through as they tried to understand what was happening in their world. 

Soraya M. Lane wrote a book that I couldn’t put down.   I was pulled in from the beginning, became invested in the characters, and enraptured by the storyline.   The Girls of Pearl Harbor is a book I will rave about to my friends.

I really enjoyed this book. It tells the story of a group of nurses sent to paradise or so they think. Paradise quickly turns to hell as the Japanese start to bomb them. We follow what happens in the aftermath of sisters Grace and April and their friend Eva. Once they are at War they are thrown in at the deep end. A well written book I definitely recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. 

I loved The Girls of Pearl Harbor!

This book follows 4 nurses who are stationed at Pearl Harbor just weeks before December 7th. They are loving living in paradise and on a great adventure until tragedy strikes. As they try to save lives they are also dealing with loosing friends and loved ones. The book follows them as they end up in North Africa working in a field hospital. 

The characters were real and the book was extremely well written! 

I highly recommend this book!

I just finished The Girls of Pearl Harbor by Soraya Lane. It does not disappoint. Lane captures the realities of war through the eyes of sisters Grace and April, early on Poppy, and another nurse Eva, who they meet when they are stationed in Pearl Harbor about one month before December 7. For one month, it is all fun and games. Everything changes the morning of December 7. Heartache and the need to do their duty is eloquently shown by the author. Each of the characters deal with insurmountable horror in a different way. I like that the story alternates point of view between the three main characters. I felt like I was in the room with each of them as the story progresses. Romance, grief, the need to put aside personal problems to help others is evident. The second half of the book takes the girls to North Africa. I think Lane presents a realistic picture of the horrors of war and the reality of saving lives and carrying on. 

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The book starts with April and Grace (sisters) and their best friend, Poppy, just arriving in Pearl Harbor in November 1941. Their reasons for being there are totally different, but they are all excited about being away from home and in a beautiful location. They meet Eva, a nurse stationed on one of the ships. The four become fast friends, but their lives all change significantly on December 7th.
In the second part of the book, the nurses have been stationed in North Africa. We see them adjust to living in tents, with hot weather, lots of bugs, and exploring their new and unfamiliar surroundings. The soldiers they treat are coming in from the front lines, and there are very little breaks. The girls form relationships with those around them and deepen their connections with each other.
Even though the subject matter was so serious, the book felt hopeful. Each chapter changed focus to one of the girls, and their distinct personalities were clear. I really enjoyed this great historical fiction book, and having the location shift was really interesting.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have been wowed by so many incredible historical fiction books over the last year, but this one is by far is one of my absolute favorites!  This particular story covers the nurses that served during WWII. The first half of the story covers the nurses that were serving at Pearl Harbor the day the Japanese attacked. The second part of the story follows three of these nurses as they are sent to Africa. The worst duty to be sent to.  It was ordinary women, who did extraordinary things to do their part during the war. 

Soraya Lane has written a story that becomes so real and vivid as you read that you can’t put this book down. The reader feels the emotions and feels the horrors of what these women saw and did during the war.  I highly recommend you read all the way through the acknowledgements. Within the acknowledgments, you will come to understand the research and love Soraya Lane poured into every word of this story, and you will also come to admire and love Soraya Lane!

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. No matter what genre you read, you will want to read this book. If I could give it ten stars I would!

Thank you #netgalley, #lakeunionpublishing and #sorayalane for giving me the opportunity to read this wonderful book.

Of Love and Honor

What I really liked the most about this novel was how the author conveyed the feelings and thoughts of the characters. They were so real that I could feel when they were excited afraid, happy, horrified, confused and in love. I felt those feelings right along with each character.

The characters were all so realistic and well cast for their places in the story.  The girls stuck together and refused to allow any of the others to feel down, or to give up. When times were hard they supported each other and shared in the pain. When one found love the rest were happy for her.

My favorite story in the book was the story of Poppy, Teddy and Grace. I also really liked the love between the two sisters April and Grace, and how they extended that love to include their friend Eve. The characters of Teddy, Harry, Art and Charlie were great as well. Even the Villainous characters of Dr Grey and Peter were well written

From the beautiful beaches of Hawaii to the war torn shores of Africa and finally the front lines the story was interesting, exciting and remarkably well written.  I would definitely recommend it.

“America was most definitely at war now; the only uncertainty was what step they’d be forced to take next to keep their country safe.”

Loved it! 5 stars for this wonderful story of determination, loyalty and friendship!
When two sisters and their best friend join the Army Corp as nurses, they feel lucky to be stationed in beautiful Hawaii. They strike up a friendship with another nurse stationed on a nearby Navy ship. The Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor soon after their arrival. The scene the author set of the destruction and deaths felt very real as if seeing it with your own eyes. These women stayed strong, showed kindness and gave hope to the injured soldiers in their care, even though they knew many wouldn’t make it. 
The women were then sent to Africa to set up a medical hospital, once again the women are at the frontline being bombarded with bombs and gunfire “where the smell of death permeates the air.” Told in alternating storylines, we also see romance bloom under the sadness and terrible losses of wartime. The Girls of Pearl Harbor is a beautiful, heartfelt book I highly recommend. A fantastic story!

*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for kindly sharing a review copy with me. All opinions are my own*

#TheGirlsOfPearlHarbor #NetGalley

This is the second historical fiction book I’ve read by this author and I really enjoy how she writes such strong and independent women.  The three women this story centers around all have their ups and downs, their moments of weakness and their times of strength.  Through it all they are determined to make their mark on the world and help others.

I wasn’t sure if Grace was going to win me over because I had issues with her in the beginning.  Rest assured, she does redeem herself.  But in the first half of this story Grace was very egocentric.  Every time I would start to like her and think she wasn’t as spoiled as I was making her out to be, she would do or say something to her sister that would make my blood boil.  By the end Grace will not only redeem herself, but will even earn my respect.

Eva has the biggest climb out of despair after the Pearl Harbor attack, and she seems to take the longest.  Through everything she has to come to terms with she is still such a nurturer.  There are some things that have to do with Eva’s thought process in the beginning that I had issues with.  I kept reminding myself that it was a different time and most women had far fewer options than what we have today.  If some of the things Eva fears start to rile you I’ll tell you the same thing about her as I said about Grace, by the end you won’t really think of those earlier problems.

Now April I liked from the start.  She could be a bit uptight and strict, but when you get to know her you realize that she came by those personality traits honestly.  In other words, you can’t hold those things against her.  Plus, they tend to serve her and the other women well.  April is the strongest of them all and the most forward thinking, but she still feels the need to conform to the ideals of the time.  She slowly starts to gain more confidence. There is something that happens with her that most readers will pick up on pretty early on but that she is oblivious to…once all of those issues come to light she will come through even stronger.

There are love stories throughout this book, but it’s truly about the strength of these women and how they support one another through many hard times. Don’t worry if you’re here for the love, there’s plenty of chemistry and sweet moments.  There is heartbreak and things that will make your heart soar.  I like that these women find love, but that you know they’ll be okay even if they don’t.

A historical fiction romance that starts off during the bombing of Pearl Harbor and continues on to North Africa, a part of the war I was not very familiar with. This was a captivating and intense read and is one I enjoyed very much. A story of friendship, sisterhood, love, trust, loss and heartbreak. Very well written with likable characters. I have enjoyed Soraya Lane's historical fiction work immensely and always look forward to her next book. The Girls of Pearl Harbor is one I will be recommending to my friends.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

Linda's Book Obsession Reviews "The Girls of Pearl Harbor" by Soraya M. Lane, Lake Union, September 10, 2019

Soraya M. Lane, Author of "The Girls of Pearl Harbor" has written a captivating, intense, heartbreaking, intriguing emotional and thought-provoking novel. The Genre for this Novel is Historical Fiction and takes place during the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the United States involvement into World War Two.  I appreciate that the author vividly writes and describes the tragedies and the camaraderie, and courage of the nurses, and servicemen and women.  The author describes her characters as complex, complicated, flawed, perhaps due to the dire circumstances. There are also supportive, brave and courageous.

When Poppy, Grace, and April first join the Nurse's Corp and are at Pearl Harbor, it seems like Paradise. They meet another nurse, Eva. Everything seems wonderful until the fateful day of Dec. 7, when they are attacked at Pearl Harbor.  The devastation and the horrors only get worse, as the nurses and doctors tend to hurt bodies.  There is so much destruction and death. There is also so much uncertainty and lack of man-power.

The medical staff and soldiers are transferred to even more difficult places and situations. I appreciate that the author discusses the horrors of war, but also stresses the importance of emotional support, protecting your country, the importance of friendship, love, and hope. I would highly recommend this story.

One of my favorite WWII historical fiction novels.

Grace, April and Poppy become nurses and are stationed in Hawaii.  They see this as a grand adventure and a bit of a vacation.  Shortly after arriving they met Eva, a nurse on the USS Solace.  Eva quickly becomes part of their group.  They enjoy dances, parties and the beach.  Plans are tragically altered when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor.

The group volunteers to be sent to Africa.  There they are faced with unbalanced soldiers, amputations, death and worse.  They fully support each other as each one fights their own battles in and around the hospital.

This is an excellent WWII read.  Many historical fiction books are being written in this era, but I found this one to be particularly satisfying.  It examines nurses on the front lines.  Each of the women grow as they face hardships and exciting adventures.  The characters are full and complicated.  The reader will laugh and cry with them.  Even the minor characters are developed in such a way that they are important, as well.


I received an ARC from Amazon Publishing UK through NetGalley.  That in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book.  I am voluntarily submitting this review.