Review: Nightingale by Susan May Warren

Esther Lange surrendered to a night of passion with Linus Hahn before he left to fight in World War II and ended up pregnant with his daughter. With nowhere to go, Esther takes Linus's advice and moves in with his parents. She's also working as a nurse, and one day receives a letter from a soldier containing a final letter from Linus. Esther dreads opening it...having never loved Linus but knowing her daughter's future is more secure with his parents.

Esther does, however, strike up a correspondence with the soldier who sent her the letter that eases her loneliness and inspires hope in her until a couple of shocking discoveries are made.

This is a hard book for me to review, because I have always loved Susan May Warren's books, but for some reason her World War II books are just not working for me. The writing is as beautiful as ever, some phrases are just lovely, but the characterization is weaker than usual and the plotlines feel tired and forced and less organic. I wouldn't mind less ambitious plots and more detail actually. Usually Susan May Warren's romances melt my heart, but I just didn't feel this one.

Having said that, it was in some ways a very interesting read as it involved American POW's on our soil. Also it has loose ties to her first World War II book, Sons of Thunder, that don't make it necessary to read the books in order but will reward the careful reader.

I suspect I will be in the minority on this book. I did enjoy reading it, I've just come to expect a little bit more from one of my favorite authors.

Rating: 3.75/5
Things You Might Want to Know: Christian fiction
Source of Book: Received for review as part of a blog tour. You can find the other blog tour participants here.
Publisher: Summerside Press

Contest
The Letters From Home Giveaway!
Enter the Contest: Nightingale is about letters, the power of written correspondence to convey thoughts and emotions to those far away. And sometimes near. Letters are forever, they are something we savor and pull out to read again and again. They are often cherished and kept in a special place.

To celebrate the release of Nightingale, Susan would like you to write a letter. One grand prize winner will receive a Flip HD Camcorder. 5 runner's up winners will win a signed copy of Nightingale. There are two ways to enter the contest by writing letters.
1. Write a letter to a soldier. At the end of the contest we’ll print out and mail your letter for you.
2. Write a letter to a friend, loved one, family member, enemy. Tell them something you wished you’d told them before. Tell them you love them, or maybe how they touched your life. Perhaps an apology is in order or a thank you. Or perhaps you'd like to relate a funny tale or just share life. Whatever it is, submit it here along with your email address and we’ll send it for you.
Enter here or at the SHARE page on the Brothers in Arms website.