The Lieutenant's Nurse

By: Sara Ackerman

Narrated by: Lauren Ezzo

Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

A USA TODAY BEST SELLER

November, 1941. She’s never even seen the ocean before, but Eva Cassidy has her reasons for making the crossing to Hawaii, and they run a lot deeper than escaping a harsh Michigan winter. Newly enlisted as an Army Corps nurse, Eva is stunned by the splendor she experiences aboard the steamship SS Lurline; even more so by Lt. Clark Spencer, a man she is drawn to but who clearly has secrets of his own. But Eva’s past - and the future she’s trying to create - means that she’s not free to follow her heart. Clark is a Navy intelligence officer, and he warns her that the United States won’t be able to hold off joining the war for long, but nothing can prepare them for the surprise attack that will change the world they know.

In the wake of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Eva and her fellow nurses band together for the immense duty of keeping the American wounded alive. And the danger that finds Eva threatens everything she holds dear. Amid the chaos and heartbreak, Eva will have to decide whom to trust and how far she will go to protect those she loves.

Set in the vibrant tropical surroundings of the Pacific, The Lieutenant’s Nurse is an evocative, emotional WWII story of love, friendship, and the resilient spirit of the heroic nurses of Pearl Harbor.

©2019 Sara Ackerman (P)2019 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited.

Critic reviews

“An emotional and heartfelt tale of love and courage.” (Chanel Cleeton, best-selling author of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick Next Year in Havana)

More Love Story Than Historical Fiction…

I REALLY struggled through this one, mainly because of the narrator, who just irritated the daylights out of me. When she wasn’t monotone, she was overly effusive and excitable, much more so than a steady, reliable, professional nurse would ever be. Her male voices were even worse. And her performance of two twin sisters from Australia, I found to be loud and screechy. Fingers on a chalk board! The narrator RUINED this book for me.

The story itself didn’t really start to get interesting for me until about Chapter 35, when the bombing of Pearl Harbor happened. Prior to that, it was a boring, rather sappy and predictable “love story.” I’m not sure “love story” are even the right words…the main character, Eva, is naive and almost teenager-ish in her “crush” on the lieutenant. I actually caught myself rolling my eyes in several places. I found the main character to be unbelievable in other ways as well - telling the doctors what they should be doing (or not doing).

I was also confused when Eva wrote to her sister Ruby and sometimes ended her letters, signing off as, “Your friend.” I kept waiting to learn that the sister wasn’t really a sister, but someone else who fit into the whole spy/conspirator story line. At the same time there was this “big mystery” as to why Evelyn/Eva had joined the Navy and could no longer return home and be a nurse. As it turns out, it wasn’t really a big “mystery.” I won’t give the reason away here.

I find it very frustrating that the audio book samples aren’t more of a true representative of what the book is really like. I always read the book descriptions, read ALL the reviews and finally I listen to the sample.

I disliked this one so much that I am going to ask Audible for my credit back.🫤

The only parts of the story I really related to at all was the instant friendship of the nurses, especially under combat type conditions and the concern of severely injured soldiers for the well-being of their comrades.

The only character I TRULY liked in this story: BRANDY, the dog!

Sadden but there is prove

That Pearl Harbor attack was planned by not only Japanese but others who wanted the Americans in the war .

A great ready

Really enjoyed the book. Have been to Pearl Harbor and remembered some of the item and scenes she speaks of.

Enjoyable to the end

Another great story by Sara Ackerman. She has a way of depicting the horrors of war in a way that’s not too heavy while interweaving a good and interesting story.

Loved

This book was amazing!!! All I can say is read it. It will not disappoint.

Don't start here

Sara Ackerman's ability to write about such a momentous & historical time as Pearl Harbor from another perspective is why I am devouring her books.
The characters are well thought out, the relationships believable & the historical context is riveting.

Although this was my least favorite of her books I've read, I still enjoyed reading it.

I enjoy the strength of Sara's female characters and find myself rooting for them as if they are real women I could someday meet. However, in this tale I found Eva to be quite whiny. She'd be whitty, brave & confident in one scene and in the next she'd be whining & backing down when it didn't make sense to. There were entire chapters I turned up the speed via Audible to zoom through her whining, but I still greatly enjoyed the story.

I would recommend The Lieutenant's Nurse, but definitely not as your first Sara Ackerman read.

So Good!!!!

I wasn't sure I wanted to read another book about war, but so happy I gave it a chance. I was on the edge of my seat and couldn't put it down. Wow! As a nurse and as a fan of this author, I just had to read it and it did not disappoint! I would love to see this become a movie!

True to the era of 1943

The characters were well etched. The narrator was very good and the different voices was well done! I enjoyed it very much

Sappy

Boring and predictable. The reader's voice was annoying . Good bedtime reading because it put me to sleep.

A tear jerker, But a must read for sure

I absolutely LOVE IT when a novel draws you so far in till you identify with more then 1 character and you truly experience what the characters are going thru, whether it's happiness or sadness, This Novel is exactly that and more. An absolute MUST READ! The Narrator is astounding!