When We Had Wings

By: Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris, Susan Meissner

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

Length: 13 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

From three bestselling authors comes an interwoven tale about a trio of World War II nurses stationed in the South Pacific who wage their own battle for freedom and survival.

The Philippines, 1941. When U.S. Navy nurse Eleanor Lindstrom, U.S. Army nurse Penny Franklin, and Filipina nurse Lita Capel forge a friendship at the Army Navy Club in Manila, they believe they’re living a paradise assignment. All three are seeking a way to escape their pasts, but soon the beauty and promise of their surroundings give way to the heavy mantle of war.

Caught in the crosshairs of a fight between the U.S. military and the Imperial Japanese Army for control of the Philippine Islands, the nurses are forced to serve under combat conditions and, ultimately, endure captivity as the first female prisoners of the Second World War. As their resiliency is tested in the face of squalid living arrangements, food shortages, and the enemy's blatant disregard for the articles of the Geneva Convention, the women strive to keep their hope—and their fellow inmates—alive, though not without great cost.

In this sweeping story based on the true experiences of nurses dubbed "the Angels of Bataan," three women shift in and out of each other's lives through the darkest days of the war, buoyed by their unwavering friendship and distant dreams of liberation.

"A novel rich in historical detail that immerses readers in the dangers and deprivation WWII nurses suffered in the Pacific, wrapped up with a hopeful ending."—Booklist

©2022 Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris, and Susan Meissner (P)2022 Harper Muse

Wonderful as always!

Ariel Lawhon is one of my favorite historical fiction authors and for good reason. If you enjoy historical fiction, in particular, WWII stories, you will enjoy this. It was a nice departure from the typical ones based in England or France. I also learned a lot. Can’t wait to see what’s next!

WWII from Japanese POW perspective

Excellent book. It’s a perspective that’s not written on as often. I love WWII books and really enjoyed this! Towards the end, I cried because I was so moved.

More love story than anything

Why do these historical female POW’s need love interests in this novel? They are enough themselves.

Really good read

I enjoyed this book! It shows how deep women to women friendships go. Very good read!

I truly loved this story, scary and heart warming at the same time.

I loved the story, the characters, and the reading. after this story I did some research on the interment camps. That was truly the greatest generation.

tremendously educational

I have read quite a bit about WWII in Europe, but this is the first "on the ground" story I've read about the Pacific Theatre of that war. This was quite the tale. I sometimes got confused as to where the nurses were geographically so I took a look at the Philippines on my atlas. My father served in the South Pacific in WWII, in the US Navy. This book tells the story of what happened to those associated with the Allies who were left behind when Japan occupied that region for a time until they were finally defeated. Not good. Not a light story by any means, but, love did win out in the end. A bit healing.

A story of friendship

A beautiful, touching story that gives voice to the deep bonds of friendship that women forge, the kind of friendships that pull us through and give us hops. The story is well written with a wealth of historic detail. And the performance is excellent.

Wonderful

Truly amazing to hear these stories. Saskia is an amazing narrator, truly one of my all time favorites.

Wow.

I have a history degree and taught history for over 25 years. Somehow, the footnote about the Angels of Bataan escaped my attention. I’m thankful to this book for rectifying that omission. What a fascinating story! It was well-told and engrossing. This one will stick with me.

Characters to care about

Saskia Maarleveld does another excellent job reading this well-developed tale of three women’s experience of WWII in the Philippines. Be sure to have some Kleenex on hand….