I’ve been anticipating Sarah Sundin’s new series from the moment I heard about it – Wings of the Nightingale. Can you guess what it’s about? Nurses! In WWII. The first book in the series is With Every Letter, and of course I signed up when she sent out a request for influencers. Not because I have a lot of influence, but I do have a big mouth, and if I like something, I will repeat it over and over. And over. So here goes!
The Story: They know everything about each other–except their real names.
Lt. Mellie Blake is looking forward to beginning her training as a flight nurse. She is not looking forward to writing a letter to a man she’s never met–even if it is anonymous and part of a morale-building program. Lt. Tom MacGilliver, an officer stationed in North Africa, welcomes the idea of an anonymous correspondence–he’s been trying to escape his infamous name for years.
As their letters crisscross the Atlantic, Tom and Mellie develop a unique friendship despite not knowing the other’s true identity. When both are transferred to Algeria, the two are poised to meet face-to-face for the first time. Will they overcome their fears and reveal who they are, or will their future be held hostage by their pasts?
My take: Sarah does a terrific job of developing two characters who are talented and have great hearts, but are misfits in society in their own unique ways. Mellie thinks she is plain and could never attract a man, while Tom struggles with his father’s murderous past and believes he could have the same tendency. Mellie and Tom are paired up to be anonymous pen pals in a morale boosting endeavor a la “You’ve Got Mail” style. And just like in the movie, they don’t know each other’s true identity.
The WWII setting and battlefield/rescue flight details are Sarah’s specialty, and this book was no exception. I wasn’t familiar with the setting as much as in her previous novels since the story takes place primarily on the African side of the Mediterranean. But Sarah – clever author that she is – included a map in the front of the book and also has a more detailed one on her website with actual WWII photos and quotes from the book. This really brought the setting to life for me as I visualized the vast desert and the rigors of WWII.
My final thought is that, as a nurse, this story intrigued me for the mere fact that it is about flight nurses. I loved the medical details and learning about medical practices in wartime. Overall, a lovely read with a story that captured me and carried me back to another time. Now I’m curious about which character Book 2 in the series will feature. Can’t wait!
If you’ve not read Sarah Sundin’s WWII stories, I highly recommend them. You can learn more about them here.
Sarah Sundin is the author of A Distant Melody, A Memory Between Us, and Blue Skies Tomorrow. In 2011, A Memory Between Us was a finalist in the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Awards and Sarah received the Writer of the Year Award at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on-call as a hospital pharmacist. During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist’s mate (medic) in the Navy and her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children.
All week I’ve shared what I’ve been reading lately. It’s your turn – What are you reading now? Any recommendations?