Heroic Measures

by Jo-Ann Power

Honoring those who have served their country in war, most focus on those who have fought on the battlefields. But one group’s heroics under fire have slipped through the pages of history, a group whose blood and sweat were left in operating rooms and hospital tents, a group whose heroism has seldom been measured.
For nurse Gwen Spencer, fighting battles is nothing new. An orphan sent to live with a vengeful aunt, Gwen picked coal and scrubbed floors to earn a living. But when she decides to become a nurse, she steps outside the boundaries of her aunt’s demands…and into a world of her own making.
Leaving her hometown for France, she helps doctors mend thousands of brutally injured Doughboys under primitive conditions. Amid the chaos, she volunteers to go ever forward to the front lines. Braving bombings and the madness of men crazed by the hell of war, she is stunned to discover one man she can love. A man she can share her life with.
But in the insanity and bloodshed she learns the measures of her own desires. Dare she attempt to become a woman of accomplishment? Or has looking into the face of war and death given her the courage to live her life to the fullest?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, World War I

358 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2013

About the author

Aka Ann Crowleigh (joint pseudonym with Barbara Cummings).

Writing a new mystery series starring a Texas Congresswoman and her reluctant bodyguard, Jo-Ann Power truly writes what she knows! A career in Washington in media--and a new resident of Texas (relatively speaking...), "JP" has created a series that PW loves as well as RT, Booklist and many readers more!"

Reviews

[Lori D · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful story of the endurance, dedication and emotion that surrounds one woman and those around her as she strives to do better for herself. Having had a hard life, living with an aunt who had no kindness in her, she works to become a nurse and not end up like most of her family in the coal mines.

What she begins to realize is being a nurse requires so much more, when she is send to France to help with the wounded men. The conditions are horrific and there is never enough of anything. But she perseveres and ends up on the front lines with a critical care until to help as the wounded come off the field.

The detail and descriptions by the author, made you feel you were there with Gwen, but really glad you were not. The hardships and pure guts it took, with all she and others experienced, was heartbreaking and eye opening.

In the end though, Gwen does find romance and there are triumphs as the human spirit wins out.
Prepare to be pulled in and mesmerized in this journey you will not soon forget!

[Elodie’s Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heroic Measures: American Heroines of the Great War
Cerise DeLand as Jo-Ann Power
https://www.facebook.com/CeriseDeLand...
Release Date 01/18/2021
Publisher W. J. Power; 2nd edition

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯

For Gwen Spencer, fighting battles is nothing new. An orphan sent to live with a vengeful aunt, Gwen picked coal and scrubbed floors to earn her keep. But when she decides to become a nurse, she steps outside the boundaries of her aunt’s demands…and into a world of her own making.
But that world has gone to war.
Volunteering for the Army Nurse Corps, Gwen promises to serve until the end of the conflict, no matter how long that is. She leaves her small hometown with her friends and sails away in the dead of night, chased by German U-boats. Ashore, she discovers her new world is dangerous and demanding, helping doctors heal thousands of sick and injured Doughboys in primitive conditions.
She’s determined to overcome the heartbreaks and the challenges. Becoming an expert at anesthesia, she volunteers to go to the front lines with an acute care team. Braving bombings and the madness of men crazed by pain and despair, she surprises herself when she falls in love with a man she admires—and should not want.
Amid the chaos, she learns the measure of her own bravery to bear any burden, pay any price and claim the one man she adores as she becomes all that she desires.

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

Will her hard won freedom come to fruition with success and love ...

When I tried to recall when was the last time I read a story set during the WWI, the answer was never. Except if you count the manga Candy Candy I read then watched as a child, it was from it I found my calling to become a nurse.
As a rerelease, I do not know if there is added materiel or correction to this story, but what thing is sure, everyone needs to read it.
Gwen and her friends Pearl, Anna, Flo, Janet, Meredith were heroes, they left their country and safe home, whatever their circumstances to help strangers on unknown lands.
Gwen is a spokesperson for a generation of women. She faced the plights of the orphans and destitute, but her will forbade her to give up, she wanted more from life than going down to the mine or scrub floor. And she did it. She and her friends are the courage personified, each in their own way demonstrated that there is more in a woman’s soul than the lack of physical strength often seen by men. What they endured and faced is equally honorable and horrific than the men in the trenches.
In addition, they had to dealt with discrimination because their sex, lower salaries, worse working and living conditions than their equals in work duties.
Yet each of these women emerged stronger from this hell, they managed to live and love despite the losses and exhaustion.
Gwen went a long way from the shy and demure girl at the beginning, she learned to listen to herself, to believe in herself and to choose for herself. She had to adapt, to make choices, to suffer but also she learned more than she never expected, she met a man devoted to her, only her, she fell in love and she made friends for life.
While her life reaches its full arc, she witnessed the horrors but also the most beautiful aspects of life, up to her to make all she experienced come to fruition. To acknowledge what life has in stock for her and appreciate it selfishly.
Just a few words about Gwen’s love interest, their first encounter is one to remember for the age, from there, it flows flawlessly until she refuses to bend society’s laws and asks for more and differently. Her lover is one everyone should dream for, despite their birth differences and their status, he sees her for whom she is, he accepts her choices and fights to win her and stay with her because she decides she won’t be a stay-at-home woman when she has so much to offer.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 lovemaking behind closed door.

I have been granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...

[Zena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting Story!
I cannot begin to imagine the amount of research which has gone into the making of this accurate (as near as can be in fiction) and emotional romance story.
It tells of the life of a young girl from her early beginnings of being forced into child labour and then when she makes up her mind to do something worthwhile with her life and to get out of the suppression imposed on her by her aunt and guardian, the decision she makes to become a nurse.
The story goes on to tell of the horrors she encountered and what she was able to achieve while saving lives and during this time she fell in love.
This is a riveting story, one which had me reaching for a tissue many a time and I salute all those women and men who fought their battles during the first world war.
My review above is written having read an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this story and it is given voluntarily and is based on my own thoughts and ideas about it.

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 3 out of 5]

When men looked at her, they saw a woman in uniform. Dedicated. Smart. Or she hoped they did. At the least, they respected her and that satisfied her mightily.

I love a good WWI or WWII story, most especially those involving nurses. What brave, incredible women they were, going overseas to face the unknown and help in any way they can, watching so much suffering and pain. This was no disappointment in that aspect. The story of the nurses is here, from training to washing their hair in helmets, to shell-shocked patients, to the sound of bombs, the collapsing of tents, the lack of supplies...

And added into the mix is some romance, conflicting emotions about the people left behind in America, friends, and a doctor killing himself with drink. I kinda liked the story there, kinda. I mean, I couldn't help but feel bad that the doctor is portrayed so badly when really, he's just a man with PTSD. You don't have to be on the battlefield to deal with that. I could understand why he was drinking...but I digress.

Actually, that brings me to my quibble. There were some great opportunities to expand this novel with the secondary characters and I feel the story was weak in that way. It kept introducing us to all these people with what could have been amazing side stories and plots and really barely touched upon them. Lex and the Lafayette Esadrille. The doctor and his decline. The one nurses who for some reason balks at marrying a French comte. What was going on there? Why mention it all if it doesn't really add to the story?

My second quibble is the romance. It appears out of thin air. Why do they love each other? What do they see in each other? She nurses his wounds, maintains a professional demeanor though she finds him handsome, shares a single dance with him in which she tries to ignore he's so handsome...but suddenly she's madly in love with him and he her?

Huh?

That came from nowhere. The romance development is poor. Also, there is no complicated love triangle here. Not that I wanted one, but the story makes it sound like one is coming and the cover is a tad suggestive of one. Just throwing that out there.

Full review: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2014/...

[Frankie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew when I came to read this book that it would be an emotional ride as I walked in the footsteps of such heroic and supremely inspiring women, but I was over-awed and whilst reading this book. I felt in so much awe of Gwen and her fellow nurses who did the most incredible job, these women were vital for the war effort. Jo-Ann Power has gone above and beyond with telling these extraordinary women’s stories, the depth of research is incredible at times it was like actually being standing right beside them. It painted an emotionally raw and brutally real picture of what these women went through.

I think what really struck me most when reading this book was just how little I knew about front line nurses from America. I think that being from the UK, we take all our meticulous record keeping via the archives and the War Graves Commission for granted and we tend to be a little ignorant to the fact that the Great War affected not just us on Europe and the common wealth but those from America also feature heavily, we just don’t really know about them. Which is why this book is so damn important, It is exactly what we need in this world and it is one of those rare books that will stand the test of time,

The story really follows one young nurse; Gwen – who is a hugely likeable character, a woman after my own heart she has spirit, determination, she has seen her fair share of troubles before she even goes into nursing, but those issues have made her the strong, reliable and passionate woman I found her to be. We first see her in nursing college where her and her close knit group of friends have fun between studies, once graduated they now face the real world. Unfortunately this world is now at war and Gwen soon finds herself facing all the horrors of the front, as she is sent to battled destroyed France.

This is definitely the most heart breaking part of the book what Gwen and her friends face day in day out is harrowing. The picture of that dark and soul destroying place is vivid and real, Ms Power has done an absolutely incredible job at portraying the scene with the utmost realism and respect and this is where the authors research and brilliant writing comes in to it’s own, she captures your attention through out the book and I can guarantee that there is times you will get a lump in your throat ad tears in your eyes.

Heroic Measures is an emotionally powerful read that will leave the reader in absolute stunned silence, it’s true, poignant and highlights an aspect of women’s history that I think a lot of us may have forgotten.

Very highly recommended one of the best books I have read and one that everyone should read.

[Rainelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book a joy to read. I found the boo entertaining. The action definitely intrigued me. There seemed to be a lot of things happening during this time period. As a person who loves history, I really loved reading about the heroic people who sacrificed so much. I found the book easy to read. I loved the romance in between the love Gwen had for her friends and especially for her sister Susannah. With the difficulties Gwen had during her journey, she didn’t let it get her down. She dedicated herself to helping the men of war and she felt that she couldn’t turn her back on them.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

For orphan Gwen Spencer, fighting battles is nothing new, sent to live with a vengeful aunt, Gwen picked coal and scrubbed floors to earn her keep. then she decides to become a nurse, she steps outside the boundaries of her aunt’s demands…and into a world of her own making.
But it’s 1917 & the world has gone to war. Volunteering for the Army Nurse Corps, Gwen promises to serve until the end of the conflict, no matter how long that is. She leaves her small hometown with her three friends and sails away in the dead of night, chased by German U-boats. Ashore, she discovers her new world is dangerous and demanding, helping doctors heal thousands of sick and injured Doughboys in primitive conditions. She’s determined to overcome the heartbreaks and the challenges. She volunteers to go to the front lines with an acute care team. Braving bombings and the madness of men crazed by pain and despair, she surprises herself when she falls in love with a man she admires.
Fantastic research, emotional, riveting – absolutely brilliant worthy of ten stars. One of the best books I’ve read in a long time, the author managed to convey the horrors of the Great War without labouring the point & to highlight the amazing work medical teams performed day in day out for months. The characters had such depth that I felt I really knew Gwen & so her struggles felt all the more real. I loved the love story which was part & parcel & I was really routing for Gwen to have her HEA
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Gwen Spencer had an unhappy childhood but determined to make something of her life, she trained as a nurse. This led her to volunteer as a nurse on the front line of the 1st World War. The story illustrates the conditions they worked in and the trials they endured. Also the lack of status given to women and how they had to struggle to be taken seriously. There is also a romance with two people from very different backgrounds, would they be able to work things out? This was an engaging read that certainly told it as it was. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Desiree Holt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once in a lifetime a book comes along that is so powerful, so emotional, so incredibly heart wrenching that you can’t put it down. And when it’s finished, you’re so it ended because you want it to go on forever. Such a book is HEROIC MEASURES. Jo-Ann power has captured the essence of World War I, the danger and terror of the battlefield as well as the continuing war waged by doctors and nurses to save the soldiers out there fighting for their country. It is easy to fall in love with Gwen. The author makes her come alive so instantly on the pages of the book. One of many nurses at that time treated like second class citizens, she nevertheless has committed her heart to serving and saving as well as providing stability for her friends who are just as young as she is. She has a core of strength seldom found in a woman of her age and you will fall in love with her from page one. It takes an incredibly talented writer to create a book about war and death and the struggles of women to find their place in it, but this author has done it in spade. HEROIC MEASURES is more than a heroic effort—it is a gold standard winner.

[Suanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gwen Spencer, a scrappy young woman from the coal belt of the States, fights for a different life. As an orphan, she’s sent to live with an aunt who resents the expense of keeping the child. But Gwen, who’s scrubbed floors and picked up odd bits of coal, manages to defy her aunt and leave behind that drudgery of a life to become a nurse. As she’s graduating nursing school, the United States has become embroiled in World War I, so Gwen volunteers for the Army Nurse Corps, vowing to stay until the conflict is over.

She’s transported to France where she discovers that nursing is not a pleasant occupation. She deals with mud, inadequate housing, insufficient clothing to keep her warm, overbearing physicians, a devastating lack of supplies—plus thousands upon thousands of wounded men. After months in service, she again volunteers—to be part of an acute care team. Gwen and her group treat the wounded at the front lines, trying to get them fixed up within ninety minutes.

Things are not always bleak. Two men are interested in her: a British nobleman and an American—almost literally the boy next door.

I liked this book for multiple reasons: its historical accuracy, its medical accuracy, its depiction of strong women and their ability to perform under stressful conditions, and its representation of women’s contributions to the war efforts. Of course, Gwen herself, a woman who’s not afraid to reach out and grab a future for herself, is an empowering vision.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

the author pulls you into the story and you feel each emotion of every character and see everything that they see. This is a very detailed descriptive story of a woman's life as an army nurse. You are captured from the very first page and the author has you turning each page and not wanting to stop! The characters are complex and interesting and you feel as if you are with them and know them individually. There is heartbreak and terror and tears, also happiness and love. I absolutely thoroughly enjoyed this book!

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

The challenges of surviving a horrible war faces not only soldiers, but doctors, nurses and medical staff who devote themselves to saving lives. A riveting story of one woman's journey to find her place in life amid turmoil with the promise of love. Well written with detailed information gives credence to the story. Highly recommend this book for a better understanding of the ravages of war.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book gifted by the author.

[Mia Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Power has done an amazing job capturing the pain and power of both emotional and physical human endurance during one of history’s darkest times.

Out heroine, Gwen was orphaned and sent to live with an unkind aunt, relegated to cleaning floors and picking coal. Determined to change her circumstances and make her life better Gwen went to nursing school and then to war. She worked tirelessly night and day under the worst conditions on the front lines in an effort to heal and save thousands of young men. She learns, grows and evolves throughout the story. She falls in love with a wonderful man who adores her equally and accepts the woman she has become and the life she chooses for herself.

This is the haunting and unforgettable story of a deep camaraderie between young women who had volunteered for the Army Nurse Corps and served together. The friendships they created were to last them a lifetime. Gwen and her friends were the epitome of strength, courage, selflessness and hope in the worst of times.

The characters were wonderfully created and portrayed. I absolutely loved this heart rending story which flowed flawlessly from start to finish. The author has done her research and it shows. I really enjoy watching Gwen grow in confidence and strength. I appreciated the authors showing not only the sacrifices of our heroes but those of our heroines who were invaluable to the war effort. This is a beautifully written, gripping and emotional portrait of wartime, ... a true-page-turner.

Thank you so much Jo-Ann for this wonderful story of hope, light and love in the dark.

[Kathleen Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Being a nurse, I love reading books about nurses from different eras and with different experiences.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A triumphant, bittersweet joy to behold!

Wow, what a profoundly touching and thought provoking tale. Told through the eyes of one courageous woman set out to fulfil a calling steeped so heavily in self worth and fueled so vividly by grit, determination, pure devotion, hope and love. Not to forget a drive so strong to make a difference that turned out to be so much more earth shattering, rewarding and life altering than the simple notion it bloomed from, to the point that I write this through tear blurred eyes and tear streaked cheeks - having become so fully invested and absorbed in her journey. I salute all those like Gwen, who if we could all strive to be as true to ourselves and muster even just a small fraction of that courage, devotion or sacrifice they possess and infuse it into our day to day life, would be all the richer for it.
Jo Ann Power captures the devastating consequences of the Great War, a state of mind and purpose so vividly told and refreshingly captured about a time so rarely depicted through the eyes of a young woman as her path leads her behind frontlines in the Army Nurse Corps.
A depiction so real and raw about the very real struggles and day to day fight against immeasurable odds; a will to change your circumstances and the raw intensity and desperation to seize the moment and live for the day with all the passion, drive and desire to be, that that entails.
Touches a chord and strikes an awareness of the torments and atrocities that must of been seen, smelt, heard and never able to forget. A beautiful portrayal of a time steeped so highly in uncertainty, bravery and sheer need to fight for survival and grasp for anything good whilst fearing its loss.
The characters are so real and will burrow so deeply inside you, they will leave an imprint not easily forgotten. A must read!!

[Linda Brugger · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Must Read This Book

I joined the Navy in 1960. Later, I was an AF reservist until I retired in 1996. This book is incredibly accurate. It's a wonderful romance precisely because it shows the triumph of the greater good in large and small ways against the agony and hell that is our human race's greatest failure, war. This writer has a nom de plume , but I won't spoil the surprise. That author is also one I admire. You will consider your time well spent with Gwen Spencer and the heroic medics in France.

[Victoria W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spies, flyboys, surgeons, and one young woman trying to navigate it all.

There were a lot of good qualities in this novel and I'm quite curious where this trilogy will move to with the next two installments.

Gwen Spencer is the anchor of this book as readers walk through her journey to escape the chains of her impoverished past (in more ways than one) and survive her journey through war stricken France with body, heart, and mind in tact.

I really enjoyed the way this book tackled the struggles these women faced patching soldiers, doctors, and even themselves back together. Characters were lost and not everyone escaped the war unharmed. For me, this made the book far more enjoyable because it added realism.

Gwen herself was also a character I wanted to root for. Watching her wrestle with questions regarding family, identity, and the world around her as she progressed through her training and the war itself was believable. There were times I wanted to come alongside like a friend or sister and help her wrestle through.



The one thing that keeps me from giving this book full stars is the pacing. Now, I'll admit cramming the last few years of a war into a novel can be tricky at best, even when the focus is on a single character's perspective and interactions. However, there were time when I had to flip back to make sure I hadn't missed a page something as 10 days or 10 weeks had mysteriously vanished, summed up in a single sentence when obviously important events had occurred.

Gwen's relationship with Lex and Adam, the Doctor battle with his illness are two instances where I felt the rushing did a strong disservice to the characters and the story, especially given Gwen's connection to the three men and the complexities that surrounded their interactions. Personally, I would have been willing to read a longer novel if it meant feeling less rushed through these elements but I have always been a stickler for details.
The rushed pace made the ending feel a little too tidy. I realize there was lots of anguish as Gwen made tough decisions (no spoilers here sweetie) but the speed with which the text wrapped up almost disservices Gwen's struggle. Perhaps this is an issue that is addressed in book 2 although I could easily see the trilogy focus on Gwen's future or shift to another nurse in that era.

Either way, I will be awaiting book 2 and would recommend this book to anyone looking for a romance, historical fiction novel.


This book was provided free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Kathryn Laceby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally reviewed at Novel Escapes

Set initially in the US during World War II I was completely drawn into Gwen’s existence as a training nurse and her passion and determination to complete her training. I believe I read last year a similar story about nurse trainees in the UK and both novels had parallel notions of servitude that went unnoticed by so many before these wars. During this historical period the nursing profession was prone to be seen as glamorous rather than strenuous and the reality was that those who went to serve on the front lines or remained behind to pick up the pieces worked as long and as hard as the doctors who were given much of the kudos. I am pleased that there are writers making a point of telling their stories.

Power’s book doesn’t dwell on the pain and suffering, instead she plows through with Gwen’s choices of perseverance and unquestionable sense of duty- despite the worry of leaving her sister behind. Gwen’s home life was nothing to be comforted by so it made sense that she would want to see what else was out in the world. I did worry though about her leaving her sister in the hands of her aunt and while it does come out as a concern for Gwen I’m not sure I would have been able to leave, had it been me. The duty of the profession took over. Gwen’s romantic relationships were honest and realistic too. I would have loved a different outcome though as I think Power hinted at an alternative that would have better suited Gwen but she probably made the right choice for herself.

Heroic Measures was graphic at times and didn’t gloss over the details of the danger and horror of nursing in the trenches. I was shocked more than once about the circumstances for those on duty and those fighting. Reading details always hits me more than seeing a movie does, and it’s good to be reminded of the sacrifices so many have made for us.

Thank you to The Wild Rose Press/Wilder Roses for our review copy. All opinions are our own.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting, Exciting Story of WWI Battlefield Nurses

Heroic Measures was an eye-opening, intense read for me. I never truly appreciated the stamina, professionalism and bravery of the volunteer nurses of World War I until I read this story. Jo-Ann Power introduces these exceptional nurses to us in this excellent read. These brave souls touched the lives of so many wounded warriors who might never have survived, physically and emotionally, following their "oh so brutal" immersion into the savages of war.

Jo-Ann has exquisitely painted a picture of well developed characters who could walk off the pages and be your own loved one or friend. The main character, Gwen Spencer comes across as a very determined, yet lovable character. She had so many negatives in her life which she turned around and used to make herself stronger. Orphaned at the tender age of twelve, Gwen and her baby sister, Susannah are left dependent on the miserly charity of an avaricious, cruel aunt who could give the matron of the orphanage in "Little Orphan Annie" quite a good run for the money. Determined to escape the misery and depravation in her aunt's household Gwen enters the local nursing school. Upon graduation she and some of her fellow students embark on a very dangerous and emotional journey of battlefield nursing. Their stories and experiences in France will rivet your attention throughout the book.

This story encompasses many ups and downs for Gwen Spencer and her fellow nurses from America to France and back. Gwen meets a "special someone" and the author effectively captures the tense times for lovers separated by war. I highly recommend you see for yourself how exciting the adventure is and how well Jo-Ann Power captures the horrors of war and the bravery of the American Army Nurse Corp of WWI.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heroic Measures was an eye-opening, intense read for me. I never truly appreciated the stamina, professionalism and bravery of the volunteer nurses of World War I until I read this story. Jo-Ann Power introduces these exceptional nurses to us in this excellent read. These brave souls touched the lives of so many wounded warriors who might never have survived, physically and emotionally, following their “oh so brutal” immersion into the savages of war.

Jo-Ann has exquisitely painted a picture of well developed characters who could walk off the pages and be your own loved one or friend. The main character, Gwen Spencer comes across as a very determined yet lovable character. She had so many negatives in her life which she turned around and used to make herself stronger. Orphaned at the tender age of twelve, Gwen and her baby sister, Susannah are left dependent on the miserly charity of an avaricious, cruel aunt who could give the matron of the orphanage in “Little Orphan Annie” quite a good run for the money. Determined to escape the misery and depravation in her aunt’s household Gwen enters the local nursing school. Upon graduation she and some of her fellow students embark on a very emotional journey of battlefield nursing. Their stories and experiences in France will rivet your attention throughout the book.

This story encompasses many ups and downs for Gwen Spencer and her fellow nurses from America to France and back. Gwen meets a “special someone” and the author effectively captures the tense times for lovers separated by war. I highly recommend you see for yourself how exciting the adventure is and how well Jo-Ann Power captures the horrors of war and the bravery of the American Army Nurse Corp of WWI.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gwen defies her aunt and studies to be a nurse. The battle front of WWI needs nurses and doctors and Gwen volunteers to go along with her classmates. They were not prepared for what they found there but push up their sleeves and get to work helping the doctors and healing the wounded.

The WWI era is an underwritten period of history. I am glad to see that some stories are coming out about a significant period of history where society is changed and the expectations of the past can no longer determine the life of a woman. I loved Gwen's courage to stand in the face of her aunt's anger and live her own life as she tries to better it so she can take her sister out of the aunt's household as well as out of the mines. The period feel of the story is spot-on. The horrible conditions in the battlefield comes through strongly. I like how history is given, but not dryly, as we learn of the implementation of mobile surgical hospitals along the front. I also like that the aftermath of the war is looked at as someone needed to begin the clean-up after the Armistice is announced.

The secondary characters are well written. I felt I knew them and how they impacted Gwen's life. Romance is in the story but it is not the main focus of it. The history of army nurses and WWI was well researched. I look forward to the next book in the trilogy.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say this is the 1st Jo-Ann Power novels I've read and I loved Heroic Measures.

Nurse Spencer is a wonderful lead female strong character and we follow her journey in this novel in a time where women were considered beneath men.

War is such a horrible thing and we soon learn how gruesome it can be for Nurse Spencer. Wonderful research must have been done to describe it so well the wounds these soldiers suffer while nurses and doctors on site try to do there best with the medical supplies they have.

This novel has you wanting to dive in and keep going to learn what Nurse Spencer's fate is as she tends to the wounded overseas.

I highly recommend this novel just for the details alone. The storyline I loved but the details really did it for me.

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book, compelling and well written. This is a perspective of women’s war with in the War To End All Wars. There is not an American hero as resolute and focused as Gwen Spencer. I understand that there may be more to her story in later books. I can’t wait.

[ROMANTIC HISTORICAL REVIEW BLOG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review by: Francine Howarth

Link to Review: http://www.romantichistoricalreviews....

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://carolynscompositioncorner.word...