Nightingale

Brothers in Arms #2

by Susan May Warren

Wolfgang Jager has found himself on the wrong side of a world war. Esther Lange is trapped inside a war of her own. Can loving their enemies set them both free? Wolfgang Jager grew up in Mason City, Iowa. So, what's he doing fighting for the Germans? If only his parents hadn't moved back to their native Germany when they believed Hitler to be a hero. It's almost a relief when he is captured by the Americans and sent to a Wisconsin POW camp. When the darkness turns to nightmare and Wolfgang is accused of murder, can he stand firm in his faith - and snatch the woman he loves out of the mouths of lions?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical, Romance, Historical Romance, Fiction, World War II

320 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2010

About the author

I can't help be amazed at the gifts God has delighted me with - a wonderful husband, four amazing children, and the opportunity to write for Him.

I've been writing as long as I can remember - I won my first book writing contest in first grade! Over the years, writing has become, for me, a way to praise God and see Him at work in my life.

Although I have a degree in Mass Communications from the University of MN, my real writing experience started when I penned the The Warren Report - a bi-monthly newsletter that detailed our ministry highlights.

Living in Russia meant I never lacked for great material - and those experiences naturally spilled out first into devotionals and magazine articles and finally into my first published story, "Measure of a Man," in the Tyndale/HeartQuest, Chance Encounters of the Heart anthology.

Susan and husbandI grew up in Wayzata, a suburb of Minneapolis, and became an avid camper from an early age. My favorite fir-lined spot is the north shore of Minnesota - it's where I met my husband, honeymooned and dreamed of living. The north woods easily became the foundation for my first series, The Deep Haven series.based on a little tourist town along the shores of Lake Superior. I have to admit - I'm terribly jealous of Mona, the heroine of my first full-length book, Happily Ever After, a Christy Award Finalist published in 2004 with Tyndale/Heartquest.

Our family moved home from the mission field in June 2004 -- and now we live in the beautiful town I'd always dreamed of! God has amazed me anew with His provision, and blessings -- and allowed me a season when I can write full time for Him.

I 'm delighted you've stopped in to visit. My hope is that you'll be blessed and encouraged by soul-stirring stories of regular people interacting with a God who loves them.

I'd love to hear from you! I love getting mail, especially from readers and I welcome your questions and comments. Write to me at susan@susanmaywarren.com. And, if you're interested, sign up for my newsletter, a quarterly sneak peek into upcoming releases and projects. Thank you for your interest and support.

God Bless and Happy Reading!

In His Grip,
Susan May Warren

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: NIGHTINGALE
Author: Susan May Warren
Publisher: Summerside Press
November 2010
ISBN: 978-1-60936-025-2
Genre: Inspirational/Historical

Esther Lange made a mistake. One night, in the backseat of a car with a man she didn’t love—a man who didn’t love her. Finding herself pregnant, her family rejected her and with nowhere to go, she went to Linus’s family. They hated her, but put up with her since she was having Linus’s baby.

But then she gets the letter—a medic was given to mail in case of Linus’s death. Esther is afraid to open Linus’s letter, but still she writes to Peter, the medic who found him. And a friendship grows.

Put then the past comes back to haunt both of them. Torn apart by war, Esther and Peter struggle to hold on to friendship—to love. But how can love survive being torn asunder in more than one way?

NIGHTINGALE is the second WWII book written by Ms. Warren (and published by Summerside Press). I wasn’t real impressed with the first book (though the writing was stellar as always) so I approached this one with some sort of trepidation. I was thrilled to discover that this book gripped me from page one and held me all the way through, making me love both Peter and Esther.

Esther is a realistic heroine, hurting from a mistake, and believing herself to be the lowest of the low. Peter is a true hero, reaching out to help others even though it causes pain to himself. I loved this story, getting to know these characters, and even praying that things would work out. Susan May Warren has crafted a winner with NIGHTINGALE. This is a book you won’t want to miss. $12.99. 318 pages.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
I loved the history and loved the characters and loved the story. The writing letters seemed so dear, and I found myself wanting her to fall for this fine man right from the start. Of course there were catches along the way...
There were some issues with the writing, though...mostly the hopping from scene to scene without preparation and throwing flashbacks in without warning. It got pretty confusing, and it shows how good the plot and characters are that I still was willing to continue reading. This was my first book by this author, and it feels more like an early work that needs just one last good clarity edit. I'm looking forward to reading more of what she's written, though, to see if it has a better sense of time and place. I felt like I never went fully into the scene and got lost in it because I never quite knew where I was going to find myself next.
Otherwise, a jewel of a book!

[A.M. Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I Loved: How many ways can I tell you that I loved this book? I’ve read only one Warren book before picking this one up and while I expected to enjoy it, I was surprised to love it quite so much. Warren kept the twists and turns coming in this book so much so that she kept me guessing down to the VERY end of the book. But beyond an amazing plot, realistic setting, and well thought out characters, Warren brings to life a strong Biblical message of accepting God’s forgiveness versus trying to earn forgiveness and of putting Christ first in your life. I was blown away, both by the compelling story and the truths presented.

Rating and Recommendation: I highly recommend Nightingale to anyone who enjoys Christian Historical Fiction or WWII fiction and I’m giving it 5 stars.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

World War II is just coming to an end but the war that is going on inside Esther Lange is unending!
She can't forgive herself for the night of passion she shared with Linus Hahn in the backseat of a borrowed car, they were both headed overseas to war, and it just happened. When that night turns into a daughter for them Esther is released from the Red Cross with no place to go. So she writes Linus, and his reply is for her to go to his hometown and stay with his parents, and that's what she has been doing for the last two years, living in their attic, raising her daughter and working at a hospital taking care of the war wounded.

Living with Linus' parents isn't easy, they are very hard, feeling like she trapped their son. When she receives a letter indicating that Linus may have been killed in action, she isn't sure what to believe, but one thing she knows for sure is that she is relieved, she won't have to marry a man she doesn't love,and barely even knows. She really believes that she was no more than a one night stand for Linus as well, and it soon comes to light that Linus had a longstanding girlfriend who works in the same hospital as Esther,and she threatens to make Esther pay for stealing Linus away from her!

Since there has been no other information about Linus she starts corresponding with Peter Hess the medic who sent her the information about Linus. Soon they develop a friendship, and when it starts to develop into something more, but when Peter's secret is exposed can they overcome it, and will Esther ever forgive herself for the mistake she made?
This was an amazing story, just when you thought things were working out the author throws a monkey wrench into it that take it in the opposite direction. The feelings are so strongly written in this book, that you are easily transported back to war time America. You can also feel the turmoil going on inside Esther, she judges herself so harshly for the mistake she made that night and is unwilling to see that she has already been forgiven by God, she just needs to accept it! Peter's story was one I kept thinking of long after I finished reading it, he was such a kind person, a victim of circumstances really, but he always kept his faith in God.The letters that passed between Peter and Esther were such a treat to read, I enjoyed seeing their friendship blossom.
I found this book a real joy to read, the author does an amazing job of taking a work of fiction and weaving a bit of a history lesson in. While this was my first time reading anything from Susan May Warren, it certainly won't be my last!


Even though I was provided a review copy by Litfuse it in no way alters my opinion of this book.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Wow. Wow. This was one of those books that is both tender and gut-wrenching. It was romantic and suspenseful. It was filled with historical detail and characterization that was rewarding to read and planted me firmly in that time period. I especially loved the letters. And the romance was breath-taking. It totally swept me away. Seriously.

Nightingale holds so much spiritual truth and depth. I found the novel to be not only entertaining, but insightful, complex and rewarding to read. It loved it not just because it was a good story, but like Sons of Thunder, it was a story that went way beyond the surface. It was a story that touched me deeply. I am totally in love with Susan May Warren's historicals. I just wish I'd read this sooner, like when it first released in November so it could have made my favorites list. This is the kind of story that has the potential to be life changing. It really stirred my heart and left me with a glow at the end that was hard to shake.

I love having a lump in my throat and feeling my heart ache because I care so much about the characters. This story made me feel like I was sitting at the edge of my seat several times. I didn't want to do anything else. I had to see what happened. Will she or won't she? Could she or shouldn't she? Does he or doesn't he? Lots of questions and very rich in detail. Also, the answers that were given weren't pat answers, but ones that were true to life. I really loved this story. I can't say too much because many of the key points that spoke to my heart would also be spoilers if I shared them. Guess you'll just have to read this one yourself to find out why I loved it so much.

[Janie Hickok Siess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis:

Esther Lange told Linus Hahn that she was sure. In reality, she was anything but sure that she wanted to succumb to his charms just for one night before he departed, bound for the World War II European battlefield. But she did, and soon found herself pregnant, shunned by her parents — who had already lost one daughter — and very much alone. Linus honorably arranged for Esther to live with his parents in their small Wisconsin home town, and they are engaged to be married when he comes home. Esther secured a nursing job at the local hospital, but more than two years later, still has not heard from Linus.

One day a letter arrives from a man named Peter Hess who identifies himself as a medic. Enclosed within Peter’s letter is the letter Linus intended for Esther to receive only in the event of his death.

No telegram from the U.S. government has been delivered, and there has been no knock on the Hahns’ door from a military chaplain. So Esther questions whether Linus actually perished. On the night Sadie was conceived, Esther barely knew Linus, having only dated him for a month, and she was not in love with him. She is confident that he was not in love with her, either. Is that the confession Linus wanted her to hear in the event that he would not return home? Or will she be surprised to read his profession of love for her and their two-year-old daughter?

And why does Esther feel herself drawn to Peter, who claims to be an Iowa farmboy? Full of self-doubt, insecurities, and continuing disappointment at her own short-comings, Esther wants to believe Peter when he tells her that she is not lost, after all, even though that is exactly how she feels. Peter seeks true freedom from all that imprisons him.

Through their letters to each other, Esther and Peter’s relationship blossoms, even as it threatens to destroy both of them.

Review:

Nightingale is the second installment in Susan May Warren’s Brothers in Arms collection. But like the first book, Sons of Thunder, it stands on its own. And keeps readers guessing, making it virtually impossible to put down once you begin reading.

Meticulously researched, Nightingale takes readers back to the waning days of World War II when victory in Europe had been declared, and Americans anxiously waited for word that the Allies had triumphed in the Pacific Theater, as well. Warren reveals and explores an aspect of the War seldom discussed in U.S. classrooms and, thus, not widely known to many: Between 1942 and 1946, more than 200,000 German prisoners of war (POW’s) were held in camps on American soil. In Minnesota and Wisconsin, more than 140 such camps were erected. Those POW’s worked on farms and in canneries alongside German immigrants, some of whose family members were fighting for Germany or housed in nearby camps. Warren’s research made her “realize that beneath the stamp of enemy just might be a fellow Christian, pressed into serving their country.”

And that intriguing premise informs Nightingale, an exploration of how our assumptions about and labeling of other persons impacts how we perceive them, whether we feel compassion for them. The word “enemy” is understood, against the backdrop of a world at war, to refer to those strangers with whom our soldiers engage in battle. We often discover too late that we have enemies in our midst: In our cities and towns, our workplaces … even our own homes among our family members. We can be our own worst enemy. Indeed, it is sometimes quite difficult to discern our allies from our enemies.

Warren mines that concept to its fullest potential. First, her protagonist, Esther, is frequently her own worst enemy because of her nagging guilt and remorse over the choices she has made thus far in her life. At the story opens, Esther has not yet begun to understand the depth of her own strength and resilience to the point that, as she attempts to talk a wounded soldier who is threatening to jump, down from the roof of the hospital, she momentarily contemplates jumping herself, tempted by the idea that flying off the roof might deliver peaceful freedom. Esther’s impulse is fleeting, thankfully, largely because she puts the needs of her young daughter, Sadie, ahead of her own. Still, however, Esther feels, at the outset, trapped and unable to extricate herself from the circumstances in which her decisions have imprisoned her.

Warren is a master at exploring the emotions of female heroines like Esther. She deftly shares Esther’s inner dialogue with her readers, drawing them into Esther’s tumultuous search for unconditional love and acceptance, while vividly constructing Esther’s surroundings. You can practically hear Esther’s crisply starched white nurse’s uniform rustle as she moves about the sterile hospital, caring for the wounded, and feel your own heart pound along with Esther’s as one unexpected plot development after another compels you to read “just one more chapter” before retiring for the evening.

Peter is also trapped in circumstances not of his own design or making. For him, Esther is the embodiment of his chance for freedom and happiness. He is desperately trying to hold on until the War ends, daring to dream that its conclusion might lead to his own redemption.

And then there is Linus, trapped in his own way — in a body that has been forever changed by battle, in a relationship that he never intended to be long-lasting, and bound by the conventions of his family and the society that is so important to them.

As is typical of Warren’s writing, the characters are complex, perplexing, sometimes maddening, but convincingly memorable. You will find yourself contemplating this tale long after you have finished reading it and that is, perhaps, the best recommendation for a fictional story such as Nightingale. Less overtly Christian than some of Warren’s other work, the story is nonetheless founded upon a message of faith, and faith-based themes and imagery are woven into each character’s journey and the overarching story. But as with many novels penned by contemporary Christian novelists, Nightingale can, because of the secular duality of the story’s message, be savored and enjoyed by believers and nonbelievers alike.

[Cindy aka "The Book Fairy" · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hard a job to keep focused at first, bit jumpy but did enjoy overall......

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

The Brothers in Arms collection had me right from the start with Sons of Thunder and this book, although very different has captured me as well. Where the faith message was not as overt in Sons of Thunder, Nightingale does not shy away. As for action there isn't quite as much but it does not make this book boring in any way. The short of it is I very much enjoyed this novel from Susan May Warren and Summerside Press. It takes a real talent for an author to write one style of fiction well but Ms. Warren can do it all. She has a rare gift. To pen a fun story about a thoroughly modern female missionary, write a story about a rancher and then write an epic WWII romance takes skill and this author definitely has it in spades.

In Nightingale we meet a former Red Cross nurse with a past and a soldier with a secret, both risk everything for love. While some may find this a bit "edgy" it definitely deals with issues that are relevant even today. A one night stand in the thick of war leads to unthinkable consequences that not only affect Esther but entire families and complete strangers. The love triangle is so complex I honestly didn't think it was going to be resolved peaceably! At times things seemed to move too quickly between Esther and Peter and was a bit less detailed than Sons of Thunder but Nightingale still deserves at least 4.5 stars for dealing with consequences of sin and ultimate forgiveness and for the straight up good entertainment value!

[Ginnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. A nurse in the middle of Wisconsin during WWIII, get a letter telling her that the guy she likes is most likely dead.

Then she meets a German POW and all her expectations change.

Before I read this book, I didn't know that Wisonsin ever had any POW camps. Great research. One of my favorite histrical fitions.

[Julie]

I'm super excited to learn I just won this book on Michelle Sutton's blog!! Go me! :)

[Darcy Schock · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story of freedom and forgiveness.

I largely rate books on how they make me feel which is incredibly subjective 🥰.

5⭐️–Absolutely adored and loved the book, a favorite.
4⭐️-Really enjoyed the book and would recommend it.
3⭐️-Liked the book, it was engaging and interesting and I am glad I read it, but I wasn’t drawn in emotionally as much as others.
2⭐️- There was a strong theme that I did not agree with or overall the book just left me with a bad feeling.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was too preachy in the end, the romance was forced, the letters included in the book were unrealistic and ridiculous, and they jump in between memories and reality so much it gets confusing. The ending also was just......ludicrous

I checked this book out thinking I was getting the book THE Nightingale. Read this one anyway to see how it was.

[Barbara Brink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nightingale is set in a small town in Wisconsin, at the tail end of WWII. Esther is a young woman alive, but not really living. She’s in a holding pattern, waiting for the father of her toddler daughter to return from war, but secretly wishing he doesn’t. Living with his parents in a small town where gossip brews around her, she works as a nurse in the military hospital and tends to other survivors of the war, men who have returned with missing limbs, or worse, minds shattered by the carnage they have endured.
Esther has a gift for healing, even while her own wounds, the sins of her past, continue to eat away at her heart and soul. Unable to forgive herself, she has no reason to believe the God of the universe would freely shower his grace upon her in love and forgiveness. As an unwed mother, she deals with the harsh judgmental attitudes of those around her.
Peter is a medic, dealing with his own secret past. When Peter sends Esther a letter from Linus, and includes a personal note from himself as well, they start up a correspondence that begins to heal something inside them both.

Nightingale is a real treat to read. The letters between Esther and Peter are lyrical. They made me wish for days of old, long before email and text messaging, when words were carefully constructed and thought out, and letters were preserved and read over and over until the paper was thin and lined with creases.
This is my first book by Susan May Warren, but it will not be my last. She has a wonderful way with words that brings you deep into the story, emotionally immersed in the lives, thoughts, and feelings of her characters. I wholeheartedly suggest you pick up a copy and read it for yourself—with a box of Kleenex at hand.

[Chickadee · Rating 4 out of 5]

World War II is over, but the personal war that Esther Lange is fighting, rages on.


Haunted by her past mistake of giving in to a brief, senseless moment of passion, Esther is an unwed mother raising her daughter alone. She’s trying to do the right thing and wait for her fiance’ to come home from the war, but finds herself under the constant scrutiny and disapproving eye of her fiance’s parents. They are convinced that Esther has purposely trapped their son Linus, into marrying her and Esther desperately tries to hide the fact that she’s not in love with Linus.


Shocked when she receives a letter indicating that Linus may be dead, she grieves for the father of her child although she doesn’t want to marry him. Confused about the lack of information regarding his whereabouts, Esther begins to correspond with Peter Hess, the medic who attended Linus on the battlefield and the one to notify Esther. Over time, their correspondence becomes more than a friendship on paper and Esther is surprised to find that she’s falling in love with Peter, who is also hiding his secrets from his past.


With a plot this captivating, you’ll have a hard time putting this book down. I found myself holding my breath many times while reading Nightingale; just when I thought I knew where the story was going, Susan May Warren threw in an unexpected twist. Readers will definitely not be bored with this story! Fans of historical fiction will find the background information about the POW camps interesting. I hadn’t previously read much about the camps where German prisoners of war were hosted and sent to work in canneries and farms, from 1942 – 1946, another important part of our American history.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susan May Warren's "Nightingale" is a tale of grace and forgiveness.

Warren has a fairly poetical style of writing, which is a nice change after many novels with a more straightforward style. However, I tend to read quickly - sometimes too quickly - so I occasionally lost track of exactly what was happening due largely to the writing. There is also a fair amount of jumping back and forth with memories, so it took a moment or two to figure out where I was in the story - present or past.

This is a mature novel - not that there are scenes of steamy passion, but that it deals with hard subjects, such as a fallen woman trying to make things right. So many of the characters, from Esther to the wounded soldiers to even Peter at times, lack hope. And if one lacks hope, how much faith can one have left? For "faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see" (Hebrews 11:1). Esther does not believe that she can attain forgiveness for her actions, and so many of the soldiers believe there is no life for them anymore, crippled as they are. They have lost both hope and faith. The characters are very flawed, but Jesus came to save such souls as these; His grace proves sufficient.

Prior to reading this novel, I had not known that during WWII there were prisoner of war camps in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa, where the German soldiers were held, nor did I give much thought to what happened when the Russians occupied East Germany.

This was a good story, with less-than-well-known but fascinating history behind it, but it is not an easy read - not in the subject matter nor in the writing style. "Nightingale" demands one's full attention.

[Monica Emtman · Rating 2 out of 5]

For me this story ended in a way that made me shake my head, which kind of was the summation of the whole book. What were the characters thinking? I meant first you have a girl trying to save a guy from committing suicide, but understanding his reason why and would like to actually join him in his endeavor, except for her daughter who was illegitimate. Then you have a guy faking his death because he doesn't want to marry a girl he got pregnant, plus he's in love with someone else. Then the main character falls in love with a German POW of war through letter writing, but is still going to marry the guy that pretended he was dead so he wouldn't have to marry her. Plus the girl is despised by this guys parents because they think she trapped him and she doesn't tell them that she got a letter that their son is dead.Um, why not? At this point my mind is overloaded with too many crazy events happening. Then there are fires, prisoners escaping, an almost execution, plus a miraculous change of heart. In the end the guy doesn't write to her for a crazy amount of time, throws her letters in the river because he doesn't think he has a chance anymore, but then she miraculously shows up a day later stating she still loves him and he loves her. This is after a broken promise of letter writing. My mind is in complete disbelief over the whole thing Now other people might love this story and there are some cute parts to it, but for me I had a hard time jumping into the storyline and the characters.

[Kelly Tyree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nightingale is a book that will make you say "Wow". If I could give it six stars I would. It is incredibly well written and really captures you and keeps your interest throughout the book.

Esther is a nurse that is caught in the guilt of one night she shared with Linus, a soldier whom she had known for a short period of time. Esther becomes pregnant from that one night. She is rejected by her family so she reaches out to Linus for help. He sends her to live with his family. She gives birth to a daughter and they both reside with Linus's parents but the relationship is not good. His parents and the community look down upon Esther for having relations with Linus and have labeled her a harlot. Esther has really gotten stuck and has internalized that label. She receives a letter from a medic, Peter, who tended to Linus while he was fighting the war. The letter states Linus sustained fatal injuries but he forwarded a deathbed letter Linus wrote to Esther. The letter begins a journey that is both freeing and devastating at the same time. Esther begins to really "live" and form a relationship with Peter through letters. The plot thickens when Esther goes to visit Peter and discovers he is POW but she is able to see past that label.

Unexpectedly Linus returns and his family is pushing Linus and Esther to marry when they do not share any love for one another. The book is filled with family secrets, adventure and a love that is so strong and beautiful.

What a great book!

[Lisa M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked it, but didn't love it. I went through it way to fast because there wasn't a lot to savor. She's a nurse during WW2. She got pregnant by a boy she met at the Red Cross shortly before he left. She gets kicked out by her parents, writes the baby's father who tells her to go live with his family. His family takes her in but is sure she trapped him into the relationship. She's miserable but loves her sweet baby girl so much and is trying to earn God's forgiveness for her actions by suffering through everything. She doesn't love her daughters father...and part of her hopes he won't come back from the war so she can leave his family. Then she gets a letter from an unknown soldier and in the letter is one with the inscription "to Esther at my death"...and in that letter her life changes...but circumstances beyond her control and a real life meeting with the soldier of the initial letter changes her life forever...

I don't know why I didn't like it...maybe because I just finished her Daughter's of Fortune series and REALLY liked them so this one seemed lackluster.

[Carman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t like this book as much as the first book in the series, Sons of Thunder, but I did like it. It was SO different from Sons of Thunder! The plot, the style, almost everything was so different. But, like the first book, this has a strong faith message and a message about being redeemed through Christ. I liked that the Esther was a “fallen woman” who was searching for what was missing in her life. However, I didn’t feel very close to her. That may have been because of the POV changes to the main male lead, but I’m not sure. I just didn’t get totally caught up in her story.

Part of the reason I didn’t really connect with this book may have been because I was trying to read it quickly. However, the book has GREAT historic details that help the era to come alive. The letters exchanged between Esther and Peter were so sweet and I really enjoyed reading them. This IS a good book in its own right, just very different from book one in the series.

[Holly (2 Kids and Tired) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esther must live with the consequences of a one-night stand. While she loves her daughter, she doesn't love her fiance and living with his parents is a nightmare. When a letter arrives that leads Esther to believe that Linus has been killed, she begins to correspond with the medic who cared for him. As Esther and Peter fall in love, they must face the realities of war and the knowledge that the secrets they keep from each other could separate them forever.

This one kept me on my toes. I loved Esther and Peter. The story is historically rich, and I had no idea German POWs were housed in America during World War 2. A fascinating and entertaining story.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

My grade: B. While I enjoyed this book immensely, I didn't always understand the characters' motivations. This happened with multiple characters and situations but was most noticeable with Esther. I never bought her ending up in the back seat of a car and giving up her virginity to a man she'd just met.

Everyone had secrets and kept their feelings under wraps. I did like Peter and Esther, but continued to get frustrated with some of Esther's decisions as the book progressed. I just didn't fully understand the choices many of the characters made. I loved the different premise and the history.

[Lesley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't know it was an inspirational read. Not my favorite. What I did find interesting was the fact about POWs we hosted here in America. The story was okay but predictable. But mostly I don't really like stories preaching God will forgive our sins. And in this case it seemed too one sided. And of course I have mixed feelings on the end. she leaves her kid with her ex and his wife after she fought all those years to keep her daughter with her. It just wrapped up too too unbelieveably nice for me.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

a story of God's forgiveness and grace, even when we think there is no changing our past. This story offered many plot twists that made it different from other historical romance novels and the themes of grace and forgiveness where woven throughout. The characters were believable and grew as the story progressed. The ending seemed to take awhile to wind down but much of that was used to develop Peter's character more.

[Maxine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Susan May Warren really knows how to write a compelling story. Nightingale is considered a companion piece to The Sons of Thunder and it falls a bit short in comparison. While she does share a genuine honest tale of a young nurse’s sentiments of sacrifice. The main character, Esther struggles with the mistakes she made in the past and often stumbles over shortcomings on her way to God and basking in his love, joy, strength and forgiveness.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

From my book review blog Rundpinne...."A beautiful, touching and sweetly innocent romance, Nightingale by Susan May Warren is a book about redemption and finding one’s way home."...My full review may be read here.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just randomly picked this book up at the library because it was on display. It is a WWII era book, which I love. Didn't have a ton of history and the plot was a bit hard to follow at times. It was also a bit, okay, A LOT cheezy but it held my interest and didn't take me long to read. Total chick-lit.

[Cheryl-Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A christian historical fiction from the WWII era. This one definitely highlights that just because someone lived in Germany during WWII did not make them a Nazi. Heartwarming and enjoyable!

Oh the name Peter Hess seems so much better than Wolfgang Jagar that they have in the summary of the book- someone should fix it.

[Naomi Musch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have highlighted a ton of beautiful words in this book just to try to get a handle on her gut wrenching yet eloquent style. Susan May Warren has a way of nailing emotional impact without pouring on the melodrama. This was a great story, and will stand as one of my favorites, as well as my second favorite SMW book. (The first is Sons of Thunder.)

[Dan Campbell]

This was my first Susan May Warren book. I was hooked from the first page. Even though I have a softer side I have never read romance...until now. Susan has a poetic way of weaving words into story that I find captivating. She has greatly influenced the way I approach my writing. This will not be my last book by Susan. Guaranteed.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nightingale explores the prejudice and suspicions that were prevalent on the homefront during and immediately after WW2, along with a budding attraction between the two main characters. As the story advanced I was on the edge of my seat, turning pages as fast as I could. This fascinating story has period details that may surprise you, and will not disappoint.