Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of Last One Home in exchange for an honest review. This book was one of the best that I have read in quite some time. From the first page to the last, it drew me in and had me feeling all sorts of emotions. There are so many aspects of the book that I enjoyed. I appreciate that the plot consisted of Lizzie’s experiences in the Army Nurse Corp during WW2. I have never read or truly learned anything about this field, so I found it very intriguing, not mention important in highlighting women’s contributions to the war effort. I also found Lizzie’s graphic and detailed observations regarding the attack on Pearl Harbor to be absolutely devastating, yet pivotal to fully understanding the historical significance of that day. Lastly, I could feel the connection that Lizzie had with her family and Everett, both in present day and the past. It was as if her thoughts and feelings were jumping off the page, causing me to physically feel every emotion that she went through. The only critique I have is that some of the conversations between characters were a little long-winded and unrealistic, but that’s also the beauty of historical fiction. Overall, this book was phenomenal, not only due to its historical aspect, but also due to its relatable components regarding love, loss, and creating one’s own path.

Well-written historical fiction, that alternated between two timelines smoothly. I was hooked from the beginning sentence; I can guarantee the reader will want to travel to Hawaii after reading this one!

** I received a digital copy from Netgalley in return for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.**

Last One Home by Shari J. Ryan. A very touching and emotional historical fiction story (one you will need kleenexes for). I loved the love story of Elizabeth Salzburg and Everett. Especially when he tells her he will be waiting in the clouds on top of that crazy flying elephant. Many many beautiful descriptions. So beautiful. *******

This one started out just a tad slow for me, but then I turned the page and I was hooked. I believe the turning point was Pearl Harbor. The story of the bombings was told in graphic detail so much so that you could imagine you were there. You felt the worry the residents were experiencing, the fear and the terror. Then I was snapped up by a story of coming home and what that meant.

You will navigate from the events of WWII to a modern-day timeline where you again experience the anguish of a different sort.

Ms. Ryan has told a wonderful story from a little different perspective than most WWII historical fiction novels.

Elizabeth is a woman training to be a nurse. Then Pearl Harbor happens and her whole world is turning upside. Will she survive or parish? Everett was a holiday actor who decided he needed to serve his country. How would Pearl Harbor change his life? Would they ever be together

This is such a beautiful, powerful, and emotional story. Elizabeth is a nursing student on a naval base in Oahu, Hawaii. She has lived a sheltered life under the strict and watchful eye of her father who is the commander of the base. She lost her mother suddenly a few years ago and she wants to follow in her brave and compassionate footsteps. When she has an awkward and hilarious meet cute with a movie star, Everett, who has joined the armed forces, they are instantly attracted to each other. But her father forbids her to see Everett. They find ways to spend time together and soon fall in love. They start to make plans together, until the attack on pearl harbor changes everything. They both are sent to different parts of the world, putting both their lives at risk. They try to stay in touch with letters, but when the letters stop, and the unforgiving bloodshed of war begins to take it's toll, will they ever find their way back to each other? This powerful and breathtaking story takes you from past to present and to different parts of the war torn globe. It is a poignant journey that is so heartbreaking, and I was completely riveted, with my heart racing from beginning to end. It is filled with heartfelt emotions, from laughter to loss, horror to joy, and everything in between. Elizabeth was so strong, independant, and compassionate and Everett was so perfect for her, supporting her decisions even when he wanted to protect her. This historical romance will touch your soul and take your breath away. It is the kind of story I love to read, and I loved every moment of this beautiful, raw and emotional journey!

Last One Home is quite uniquely told in a vivid and descriptive fashion. Pure and simple, I loved this story more than my words can express. From beginning to end, this book is filled with poignant passages that will forever be etched in my heart and soul.

Ryan is a gifted storyteller. She paints an extraordinary picture of this historical time period, the 1940’s. The manner in which she describes the bombing of Pearl Harbor and WWII overall, you feel you are sharing the experience with the characters.

It’s worth noting the central focus is on the lead character, Elizabeth also known as Lizzie. We learn early on she desires more than comfortable lifestyle of a 1940’s housewife. She wants to experience more from life and see the world. Enlisting in the Army Nurse Corp was her hope to fulfill that dream. This is written in a dual timeline. We are taken back to the 1940’s when Lizzie had her whole life and dreams ahead of her from the current year of 2018 where she struggles to remember those dreams.

The support characters, Everett (the love of Lizzie’s life), her father, brothers, deceased mother and her best friend to name a few add a wonderful richness to the story. I can’t say enough about this book. You’ll want to experience it for yourself.

5 Last One Home Stars!

Thank you to Shari J. Ryan, NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reading opportunity.

Thank you to the author & publisher for my advance copy of this book.

Last One Home is the story of 21 year old Elizabeth; a trainee nurse who was a first hand witness and heroine during the WWII Pearl Harbor attack.

What I loved most about this story was Elizabeth’s strong sense of identity & courage. I wasn’t sure how this was going to play out as the book continued but it really kept me guessing, particularly in the last few chapters.

Elizabeth is the woman every female strives to emulate. She has is fiercely independent, loyal and brave. I found the family dynamics interesting and enjoyed seeing how the author rounded this up at the end with the switch to present day life.

As an elder Elizabeth recalls the events leading up to Pearl Harbor with her grandson Daniel, she can't help but feel at ease with him even though she has no memory of who he is. Despite her dementia she has no problem remembering the tragic actions that took place on that historic day. A nurse in training on base and taking care of her father and older twin brothers since her mother past away, Lizzie is thrown for a loop when she attracts the attention of Everett. They start meeting in secret, away from the prying eyes of her brothers and strict father, who is the Commander on base. It's during this time they unknowingly are thrust into the horrific events of that day. What Lizzie sees and experiences gives her great inner strength to continue helping others in this war despite the protests of Everett and her father.

Years pass as Lizzie enlists to be a nurse for the army, taking her far away from Oahu and to dangerous places. With Everett on active duty as well, fate has them meet time and again as they continue to explore their feelings for each other. Being apart with every passing day Lizzie wonders when she will see him again when tragedy strikes, and she is left wondering how will all this end and who will be the last one home?

I thought the author did a great job describing as a nurse what Lizzie had to encounter with the injured. The long distance relationship through many years overcame hurdles and proved their love and faith in each other withstands the test of time. A great story and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you Netgalley and Shari J. Ryan for the opportunity to read this book.

I thought I was prepared for where this book would take me. I’ve read other books by the author; I know that she’s always going to take me on an emotionally fraught journey. Yet none of that preparation braced me for the impact of this story. This felt like one part Pearl Harbor, one part Schindler’s List, and all the uniquely Shari J Ryan flair to tie it all together. My book hangover at the end of this one is going to take hours, possibly even days, to recover from what I just went through. Take this as the warning it’s meant to be and keep boxes of tissues handy; I can barely see now because I spent so much of the book in tears. I cried because my heart hurt. I cried in joy. I cried because I was laughing so hard. It’s also possible that I may be a little dehydrated now that I’m finished reading it. Even though it asked so much of me while reading it, I will not hesitate to go back and read it over and over again.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author through NetGalley.

Gosh...what an emotional story. The attack on Pearl Harbor has been memorialized time after time. This book takes you right to the heart of the time period and is an emotional roller coaster. Love, loss, and despair, paired with elation. What a combination.

I'm not generally a fan of the first person narrative, but I don't know how this story could have been told any other way. When she is in the present time discussing her time during the war to her 'grandson', she slips seamlessly into the past and we're right there with her. You could FEEL the scenes she was talking about.

This is a particularly heart wrenching tale for me. I lost a great-uncle in the South China Sea. He had been married only about 4 months when he shipped out to the Pacific Theater and was lost on his first mission as the co-pilot of a B-17. His wife, never remarried. He was the love of her life. I've recently been able to talk to her about my great-uncle and I wish I had the ability to put pen to paper and tell their story.

I've never read a book by Ms. Ryan before, but I will be sure to add her stories to my list! I'm still thinking about these characters and tearing up. So good!

I was gifted a pre-publication copy by NetGalley. The review is my own.

Thoughts

Elizabeth is training to become a nurse on a naval base in Oahu, Hawaii when she meets movie star turned Army lieutenant, Everett Anderson. She tries her hardest to stay away because of her fathers strict rules on dating and everything else in her life, but it becomes too much. When the attack begins on Pearl Harbor Everett and Elizabeth work together to save as many as they can, but they end up separating to do their jobs. Shortly after Elizabeth enlists with the Army Nurse Corps and travels all over the world. Everett is also traveling which makes it harder to stay in touch.

This is a story of love, bravery and fighting for what you believe in. There were so many times I found myself holding my breath when reading especially when Elizabeth was in the hospital after the attack. I loved how her character is portrayed. A strong and independent woman who does not give up on her dreams when she falls in love.

The chapters alternate between October 2018 and 1941-1945 so we get to read about Elizabeth as a young nurse and as a mom/grandma/wife. While she can't always remember who people are in present day, she never forgot Everett.

Thank you to the publisher and author for sending this page turner my way. Last One Home is available today!

Book Rating: 4/5

Wine Pairing: Shannon Reserve Chardonnay

Shari Ryan has certainly found her sweet spot in writing about life in the 1940's. Last One Home is a great addition to her collection of historical love stories, each rich with detail and experiences. And she certainly doesn't hold back when it comes to the headstrong Lizzie and the world we get to witness through her eyes as the events of Pearl Harbor come bursting through the pages of this book. Even with a present day Lizzie struggling with her daily memory, I truly appreciated that her adoration for a time many years in the past was still as fresh as ever and could be relayed as if time stood still.

There is much to cherish about this story, wherein a determined 20 year old Lizzie decides to enlist in the Army Nurses Corps after the horrific aftermath of December 7th. I loved her spirit and her push knowing there was so much more for her in this world than just being the sole woman in her male-dominated household. It was so appropriate to continually want to follow in her dear departed mother's footsteps, using her capable hands for more than just fixing a satisfying supper for her strong-willed father and jovial twin brothers.

The romance between Lizzie and one Everett Anderson is truly sweet and full of mirth. Even with 4 years of wartime, and despite the distance between them, a lovely feeling of hope always seems to break through the dire days and lonely nights. Perhaps it's the time period but their love seems to know no bounds and despite all the stops and starts, there is an ease in simply being together no matter how brief their time may be.

Ryan described the events that happened that dark day in Oahu very vividly. You could smell the oil, feel the flames and grasp the intensity of what those brave men and women experienced. Ryan has a gift for relaying both times of pain with those of joy beautifully and it always adds a special element to her work. I feel as if I am there amongst the mayhem, by their sides in the frightening quiet and smiling broadly when the little glimpses of happy find a way to be known.

The secondary characters add the right amount of support and even some resistance when needed. Although I would have loved just a little bit more of some of them as the book neared its end, I was pleased overall at how their lives played out.

Last One Home is a precious diary of sorts that unfolds through each chapter, with the feisty Lizzie as our narrator. Getting this glimpse of a time that will forever live in infamy was definitely eye-opening and gave me some insight into my own father's experiences as a member of the Army Air Corps during WWII. I will say that I would have hoped for a chapter or two in Everett's POV since his own story was as riveting and gut-wrenching as Lizzie's was. But I'm satisfied in knowing they did everything possible to find a way back to each other and whether or not they find that ultimate reward is something each reader needs to discover for themselves.

4 swell stars!

This WWII story begins in Hawaii which gives a different perspective of the war from other WWII novels. Activity then moves to England and Europe. It’s a good love story between a movie star soldier and a nurse with a sweet ending. The book is rather long but holds your interest.

I really tried to push through with this novel, since I love WWII fiction, but the dialogue was too formal and unrealistic to keep going. Perhaps the author was trying to mimic the formalities of the 1940s, but I don't believe people actually spoke like that. It came off almost... robotic (for lack of a better word).

The first person POV was well written, and I was happy to see it in a historical fiction novel. This one just missed the mark for me, and ended up as a DNF.

But I am appreciative. Thank you so much to the author and publisher for the chance to try this ARC!

This novel was given to me as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This story of WWII and the effects of Pearl Harbor explores, love, family, friendship, war and survival.

I absolutely loved this book! The time slips were amazingly done and I felt like I was right there. The characters were well done and the story was woven with the perfect mix of actual facts/events and fiction. The ending was perfect. Definitely, a must-read.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Historical fiction as become one of my favorite genres, especially WIII books even though they can be so emotional and hard to read. I have a list of all time favorites: The Nightingale (Kristin Hannah), The Flight Girls (Nowlle Salazar) and Our Darkest Night (Jennifer Robson) just to name a few. Well now I will be adding The Last One Home to that list!!! I loved everything about this book. Being that we visited Pearl Harbor in 2013, I am extremely interested in books that focus on the attack of Pearl Harbor. After standing there and seeing the destruction in person, it’s something that you can’t even imagine going through. This author did such a remarkable job describing the attack. There were many times I had tears in my eyes as I read this book. And the love story between Lizzie and Everett was so beautifully written. This book will stay with me for a long time and I’m sure it will end up being one of my top favorites of 2021.

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

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The story line is very good. Writing is stilted and word choices are sometimes questionable. The emotional impact of the story of love, war, and endurance is compelling.

Shari Ryan has created a timeless plot and character driven book that will leave you feeling all the emotions. I was fully immersed in this book-as in I had tears streaming down my cheeks into my face mask while flying at 30,000 feet. The other passengers were so kind not to give me looks (although they may have and I just did not notice). This book will make you feel love, loyalty, indignation, sorrow, and exhaustion. Shari Ryan brings you through each page with each character/event and my heart was right alongside the story in the margin. This book was unlike any WWII story I have read. It is from the perspective of American's role in the war, specifically the brave nurses. Beautifully written and I predict this will be a very popular book for 2021.