The Lieutenant’s Nurse
Sara Ackerman
Genre: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance
Published: March 5, 2019 (MIRA)
Rating: 
Synopsis: 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 to whom she is drawn but who clearly has secrets of his own. 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 her 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.
The Lieutenant’s Nurse begins quietly aboard the SS Lurline, where we meet the heroine Eva on her way to her nursing assignment. One of the most striking aspects of this story is the rich imagery employed by Sara Ackerman. Little details about the ship and passengers give a delightful glimpse into the past that draws a reader in and before you know it, its two and a half hours later and you’ve finished the book. Readers are treated to historical details that Ackerman included. I fact checked when she described Clark’s scent as that of Old Spice and now I have a fun little trivia nugget to share during awkward dinner parties.
Eva was an interesting character. I thoroughly enjoyed watching her grow, becoming more assertive and self-assured in a male dominated field, as well as the friendships she forms. Ackerman built a wonderful supporting cast. The Australian sisters that Eva meets aboard the SS Lurline brought a dash of color to the story. Their “living life to the fullest” antics made me laugh each time they appeared in a scene.
Then there is Clark, our swoon worthy male lead. I can’t deny I adore the man. I wouldn’t say he has a secret, but he certainly does have a past and baggage like Eva. Ackerman’s descriptions of her characters truly brought them to life for me. The chemistry between Clark and Eva was perfectly written and getting a few chapters that included Clark’s perspective of his growing feelings for Eva as well as the mounting concern from the communications room added to the slowly growing tension.
The tension of the impending conflict slowly builds as the ship gets closer to Oahu and quickly erupts as the dawn breaks on the day of the Pearl Harbor attack. The pace takes off making the story feel more like an action novel, and it some ways it is. And yet I was most impressed with the quiet strength that Ackerman wove into the female characters that had me cheering. The writing was beautiful even in the midst of carnage.
Sara Ackerman has crafted a truly beautiful story of resiliency, love and friendship with just a dash of intrigue. I highly recommend this to fans of historical fiction and historical romance.
**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy of this book; all opinions are my own.**
