What do you think?
Rate this book
Dear Enemy
By Jack Cavanaugh, the Christy-Award winning author of more than 25 novels.
One night in the Ardennes Forest will change everything she holds dear...
December, 1944, Malmedy, France.
Annie Rawlings, an army nurse, spends her days and nights patching up the American boys who are fighting the Krauts. Soldiers so young they should be back home, playing baseball and flirting with girls on a Saturday night. Annie can't help but hate the Germans, especially when she hears about the atrocities at the Baugnez crossroads, where Nazis shot the American wounded.
All Annie wants is for the war to stop long enough so she and Lieutenant Keith Mitchell can have their longed-for honeymoon in Paris over Christmas. But aircraft continue to roar overhead. Trucks, tanks, and personnel carriers rumble in the distance. More casualties pour in. Then, one snowy night, Annie and her friend Mouse drive an ambulance into the middle of no-man's-land on a desperate mission....
A surprisingly different kind of romance set in the midst of WW II in France.
Jack Cavanaugh has scored the top spot on my recommended reading list with this novel. Dear Enemy is one of those rare finds that can be enjoyed by almost any reader.
-SARA MILLS, Focus on Fiction.
A story of love, friendship, and survival, Dear Enemy is emotional, sentimental and engrossing.
-PHILLIP TOMASSO III, In the Library Review.
Cavanaugh's strength...is in building up the characters...as they encounter real historical events. He's done so again here.
-TIM FRANKOVICH, Christian Fiction Review.
I...was intrigued by the plot and excellent description... I'll look for other books by JackCavanaugh.
-MARIE DISBROW, The Road to Romance.
Well written, with descriptive and captivating word pictures. Cavanaugh captures hearts on both sides of the battle line.
-CAROLYN SCHEIDIES, Author's Choice Reviews.
A gripping story beautifully told.
-KATIE HART, Christian Book Previews.com.
One night in the Ardennes Forest will change everything she holds dear...
December, 1944, Malmedy, France.
Annie Rawlings, an army nurse, spends her days and nights patching up the American boys who are fighting the Krauts. Soldiers so young they should be back home, playing baseball and flirting with girls on a Saturday night. Annie can't help but hate the Germans, especially when she hears about the atrocities at the Baugnez crossroads, where Nazis shot the American wounded.
All Annie wants is for the war to stop long enough so she and Lieutenant Keith Mitchell can have their longed-for honeymoon in Paris over Christmas. But aircraft continue to roar overhead. Trucks, tanks, and personnel carriers rumble in the distance. More casualties pour in. Then, one snowy night, Annie and her friend Mouse drive an ambulance into the middle of no-man's-land on a desperate mission....
A surprisingly different kind of romance set in the midst of WW II in France.
Jack Cavanaugh has scored the top spot on my recommended reading list with this novel. Dear Enemy is one of those rare finds that can be enjoyed by almost any reader.
-SARA MILLS, Focus on Fiction.
A story of love, friendship, and survival, Dear Enemy is emotional, sentimental and engrossing.
-PHILLIP TOMASSO III, In the Library Review.
Cavanaugh's strength...is in building up the characters...as they encounter real historical events. He's done so again here.
-TIM FRANKOVICH, Christian Fiction Review.
I...was intrigued by the plot and excellent description... I'll look for other books by JackCavanaugh.
-MARIE DISBROW, The Road to Romance.
Well written, with descriptive and captivating word pictures. Cavanaugh captures hearts on both sides of the battle line.
-CAROLYN SCHEIDIES, Author's Choice Reviews.
A gripping story beautifully told.
-KATIE HART, Christian Book Previews.com.
Nook
First published January 1, 2005
6 people are currently reading
1186 people want to read
About the author
Jack Cavanaugh
36 books154 followersJack Cavanaugh is an award-winning, full-time freelance author with twenty-five published novels to his credit. His nine-volume American Family Portrait series spans the history of a nation from 1630 to the present and is still in print nearly fifteen years following its release.
A student of the novel for more than a quarter of a century, Jack takes his craft seriously, continuing to study and teach at Christian writers conferences. He is the former pastor of three churches in San Diego County and draws upon his theological background for the spiritual elements of his plots and characters.
His novels have been translated into a dozen foreign languages, largely because of the universal scope of his topics. Jack has not only written about American history, but about South Africa, banned English Bibles, German Christians in the days of Hitler and Communism, revivals in America, and angelic warfare.
Jack’s current writing schedule includes motion picture screenplays and e-book serial fiction with Internet distribution. His novel Death Watch has been optioned to be made into a motion picture by Out Cold Entertainment, Inc.
Jack has three grown children and lives with his wife in Southern California.
AWARDS
• Silver Medallion Award (1995), Christian Booksellers Association
• Christy Award (2002, 2003), Excellence in Christian Fiction
• Silver Angel Award (2002), Excellence in Media
• Gold Medal, Best Historical (2001), ForeWord Magazine
• Best Historical Novel (1994), San Diego Literary Society
• Best Novel (1995, 1996, 2005), San Diego Christian Writers Guild
A student of the novel for more than a quarter of a century, Jack takes his craft seriously, continuing to study and teach at Christian writers conferences. He is the former pastor of three churches in San Diego County and draws upon his theological background for the spiritual elements of his plots and characters.
His novels have been translated into a dozen foreign languages, largely because of the universal scope of his topics. Jack has not only written about American history, but about South Africa, banned English Bibles, German Christians in the days of Hitler and Communism, revivals in America, and angelic warfare.
Jack’s current writing schedule includes motion picture screenplays and e-book serial fiction with Internet distribution. His novel Death Watch has been optioned to be made into a motion picture by Out Cold Entertainment, Inc.
Jack has three grown children and lives with his wife in Southern California.
AWARDS
• Silver Medallion Award (1995), Christian Booksellers Association
• Christy Award (2002, 2003), Excellence in Christian Fiction
• Silver Angel Award (2002), Excellence in Media
• Gold Medal, Best Historical (2001), ForeWord Magazine
• Best Historical Novel (1994), San Diego Literary Society
• Best Novel (1995, 1996, 2005), San Diego Christian Writers Guild
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
February 17, 2015
It captured my attention and kept me so engaged that I finished the book in one sitting. It's well written and very easy to read. However, the story itself felt flat and the characters were too one dimensional. All except for Karl, the main protagonist.
I loved the whole concept of right and wrong, and that people can't easily fit into the category of enemy or hero.
This could have been a ten star read had the author drove deeper into each event and created more than a superficial connection between the characters and the reader.
The ending in particular was again just a gloss over of something that could have been quite powerful.
I loved the whole concept of right and wrong, and that people can't easily fit into the category of enemy or hero.
This could have been a ten star read had the author drove deeper into each event and created more than a superficial connection between the characters and the reader.
The ending in particular was again just a gloss over of something that could have been quite powerful.
April 13, 2019
I love this book!! I would totally recommend this book to someone who wants to read a story that you can snuggle into bed and read it into all hours of the night. It was a very touching story and I really love how the author portrayed the main character as someone who learned something from experience and acted upon it. We should have more books like this because it wasn't just a history lesson, but it was a story with life-like people and real life problems. It was a really good book!! Five stars to Jack Cavanaugh!! I wish he could write more books like this.
October 9, 2017
Oh. My. Word.
So the ending was slightly disappointing, but seriously. THIS BOOK WAS AMAAAZIIIINNNGGG.
So the ending was slightly disappointing, but seriously. THIS BOOK WAS AMAAAZIIIINNNGGG.
February 13, 2016
OH MY GOODNESS!!! That ending! Augh!
Amazing book. When it keeps my up this late, err, early, then it's good. No, it's outstanding.
I'll write a full review later. . .when I can sort out all my thoughts and feelings.
Amazing book. When it keeps my up this late, err, early, then it's good. No, it's outstanding.
I'll write a full review later. . .when I can sort out all my thoughts and feelings.
September 24, 2012
I enjoyed this book more than I originally thought I would.
Isn't that kind of a backward thing to say? I haven't read a good, formal historical fiction in a long time and this book definitely delivered! The Battle of the Bulge has always been interesting to me (my Great Grandfather was fighting in the Ardennes on December 28th 1944 when my grandma and her twin were born, and was later wounded in that battle), but this was a story I quite honestly was not expecting.
Karl was not the character I imagined him to be from reading the back cover of the book. It is here I feel it is appropriate to use the pun 'never judge a book by its cover'.... because in essence that is what Annie learned. The acquired hatred of Americans toward the Germans during wartime did a number not only in her faith but on her mind and emotions. How should one react when in the company of someone she was conditioned to hate?
I think this idea applies very religiously to many scenerios today-- the predisposition creates by intolerance or learned thinking, where one is surrounded by those who hate one way and demonize one thing, race, or type of person, and the person themselves comes to view things the same. When pulled out of your element, what will the conscience and heart decide?
Can opinions change? In this case, yes, and it was a fabulous story to read, one I would suggest for high school level when teaching about history, adversity, or wartime. It is interesting but the growth of both main characters is evident and if nothing else, that is what made me fall in love with this book.
Isn't that kind of a backward thing to say? I haven't read a good, formal historical fiction in a long time and this book definitely delivered! The Battle of the Bulge has always been interesting to me (my Great Grandfather was fighting in the Ardennes on December 28th 1944 when my grandma and her twin were born, and was later wounded in that battle), but this was a story I quite honestly was not expecting.
Karl was not the character I imagined him to be from reading the back cover of the book. It is here I feel it is appropriate to use the pun 'never judge a book by its cover'.... because in essence that is what Annie learned. The acquired hatred of Americans toward the Germans during wartime did a number not only in her faith but on her mind and emotions. How should one react when in the company of someone she was conditioned to hate?
I think this idea applies very religiously to many scenerios today-- the predisposition creates by intolerance or learned thinking, where one is surrounded by those who hate one way and demonize one thing, race, or type of person, and the person themselves comes to view things the same. When pulled out of your element, what will the conscience and heart decide?
Can opinions change? In this case, yes, and it was a fabulous story to read, one I would suggest for high school level when teaching about history, adversity, or wartime. It is interesting but the growth of both main characters is evident and if nothing else, that is what made me fall in love with this book.
February 4, 2013
It was difficult to put down, and quite absorbing, though the main characters felt a little flat to me. The overall plot was one I'd been hunting to find for quite a long time, and I think my own personal expectations where too high (if I can't find a book that has everything I want, then I should write it myself!). Well written with good dialogue, but the ending simply left me feeling horrible. It felt as though the author had written a wonderfully satisfying and poignant conclusion, then suddenly learned his wife left him, and angrily rewrote the ending to fit his mood.
July 7, 2017
Well written and fast paced read with a captivating storyline. My only gripe is that the characters weren't very developed. I think this could have been a 5 star book had more effort been put into the characters, especially Annie and Karl. I found Karl especially intriguing and really wanted to know more about him. I thought the ending was rather abrupt as well.
Overall, not a totally disappointing read, but nothing groundbreaking.
Overall, not a totally disappointing read, but nothing groundbreaking.
February 25, 2017
I really liked the book and the characters, but I thought the ending was a little rushed.
April 14, 2014
I think that he is an amazing author with one slight problem...he can't end a story well. One of my favorite fiction books is "While Mortals Sleep" (by him), but he should have stopped with that one instead of adding those two last books. Seriously the third one was one of my worst books in the world. So I guess ours is a love/hate relationship. : ) All that to say, I really liked this (Dear Enemy) book until the end. He could have come up with something much better. Well that's my humble opinion on the subject. : )
January 27, 2025
Libby audio loan 7 hours Narrated by Christina Moore (5)
During the Battle of the Bulge December 1944, two nurses "unofficially" commandeer an ambulance to search for two missing officers in the Ardennes forest. One is searching for her high school sweetheart, now husband of two days, and his ranking officer. In the middle of gunfire, one nurse is killed, and the other is reunited with her husband for only a few hours. Two Nazi soldiers seem to be searching for the couple; shots are exchanged, and one German soldier is surprised to find himself with a female American hostage. Together, they must try to survive hostility presented by the war. Does the old adage "the uniform makes the man" hold true in this case?
I am pleasantly surprised by the twists in the plot and by how naturally the characters begin to reveal more about themselves to each other over the course of a week.
Negatives:
DEAR ENEMY is called an "inspirational Christian book." It was decent but showed only a superficial Christian skin.
DEAR ENEMY showed that the author had no clue as to real conditions of the battle that took place in Belgium from December 16, 1943, through January 25, 1945. Some casual research, such as reading an encyclopedia article, would have precluded choosing this battle for the setting.
DEAR ENEMY has an abbreviated and disappointing ending. Almost every Goodreads review refers to this fault. Mr. Cavanaugh could have flipped a coin to settle this matter for himself and his readers. Why did the editor allow this?
During the Battle of the Bulge December 1944, two nurses "unofficially" commandeer an ambulance to search for two missing officers in the Ardennes forest. One is searching for her high school sweetheart, now husband of two days, and his ranking officer. In the middle of gunfire, one nurse is killed, and the other is reunited with her husband for only a few hours. Two Nazi soldiers seem to be searching for the couple; shots are exchanged, and one German soldier is surprised to find himself with a female American hostage. Together, they must try to survive hostility presented by the war. Does the old adage "the uniform makes the man" hold true in this case?
I am pleasantly surprised by the twists in the plot and by how naturally the characters begin to reveal more about themselves to each other over the course of a week.
Negatives:
DEAR ENEMY is called an "inspirational Christian book." It was decent but showed only a superficial Christian skin.
DEAR ENEMY showed that the author had no clue as to real conditions of the battle that took place in Belgium from December 16, 1943, through January 25, 1945. Some casual research, such as reading an encyclopedia article, would have precluded choosing this battle for the setting.
DEAR ENEMY has an abbreviated and disappointing ending. Almost every Goodreads review refers to this fault. Mr. Cavanaugh could have flipped a coin to settle this matter for himself and his readers. Why did the editor allow this?
March 7, 2018
I wanted to love this book. I expected to love this book. So many of my friends here on Goodreads love this book. But I don't love this book...sadly.
I don't know, it all just seems a bit much. It teaches a beautiful lesson on the evils of prejudice, racism, and the lesson of forgiveness.
But, I don't know. The circumstances seem a bit too far fetched. I don't know how this could have happened in real life. I don't like the fact that she may like Karl, and it's not because he's German or anything and this was set in WWII (trust me, Karl's a beautiful soul). I mean, the man she possibly ends up falling for (who is Karl) is the man who killed her first husband, and while it was out of self defense and not hatred, I just don't see a girl falling for a guy that killed her husband, even out of self defense. I mean, it feels like some sort of betrayal to her first husband.
That was the only problem I had with the book, thus making it good, but not great.
I genuinely like the book, it just didn't make it onto my favorites shelf, which is disappointing, because it had so much potential.
I do like how the author left the ending unknown, so we can sort of decide how we want it to end, how we feel it should end in our hearts.
Three stars isn't a bad rating, it just means I didn't fall in love with the book.
I don't know, it all just seems a bit much. It teaches a beautiful lesson on the evils of prejudice, racism, and the lesson of forgiveness.
But, I don't know. The circumstances seem a bit too far fetched. I don't know how this could have happened in real life. I don't like the fact that she may like Karl, and it's not because he's German or anything and this was set in WWII (trust me, Karl's a beautiful soul). I mean, the man she possibly ends up falling for (who is Karl) is the man who killed her first husband, and while it was out of self defense and not hatred, I just don't see a girl falling for a guy that killed her husband, even out of self defense. I mean, it feels like some sort of betrayal to her first husband.
That was the only problem I had with the book, thus making it good, but not great.
I genuinely like the book, it just didn't make it onto my favorites shelf, which is disappointing, because it had so much potential.
I do like how the author left the ending unknown, so we can sort of decide how we want it to end, how we feel it should end in our hearts.
Three stars isn't a bad rating, it just means I didn't fall in love with the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2015
I really liked the story flow in this intense tale of survival in war torn France and the coming together of two people from very different worlds. The author has a gift for telling a gripping narrative that keeps the reader going, scene from scene, without any slow gaps of extensive exposition or over intense scenes of war battles.
I was really touched by the primary theme as well. The idea that individual people can’t be judged by their overall society or by their government is a powerful one; that just being a part of a country or group of people doesn’t define an individual. That’s a great idea to explore in a Christian WWII work, and the author pulls it off well.
The characters shined well; both Annie and Karl kept me spellbound by their struggle to deal with the horrors of war and keep an identity that is separate from all the carnage around them. I adored how they found common ground between them even through the tragedy that surrounded their meeting. Their growth as individuals and their coming together as a couple really made this book.
I actually really liked this one. From some of the reviews already written, I was thinking I might have some problems, but everything was smooth sailing. I adored the characters, smooth story, and themes explored. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys WWII historical fiction with a Christian fiction flavor.
I was really touched by the primary theme as well. The idea that individual people can’t be judged by their overall society or by their government is a powerful one; that just being a part of a country or group of people doesn’t define an individual. That’s a great idea to explore in a Christian WWII work, and the author pulls it off well.
The characters shined well; both Annie and Karl kept me spellbound by their struggle to deal with the horrors of war and keep an identity that is separate from all the carnage around them. I adored how they found common ground between them even through the tragedy that surrounded their meeting. Their growth as individuals and their coming together as a couple really made this book.
I actually really liked this one. From some of the reviews already written, I was thinking I might have some problems, but everything was smooth sailing. I adored the characters, smooth story, and themes explored. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys WWII historical fiction with a Christian fiction flavor.
January 3, 2017
Dear Enemy by Jack Cavanaugh was an incredible book. Set during WWII, Annie Mitchell is an Army nurse engaged to an officer. Annie is assigned to a military hospital on the front lines, showing a unique perspective of the war. Her unusual encounter with a German officer and all that transpired from that kept me continually guessing what would be next. As always with this author's books, I could not put it down.
July 13, 2011
I adored this book... while the ending is completely up in the air, it is one of the most beautiful stories of life, love, forgiveness and overcoming prejudice I have ever read.
Jack Cavanuagh remains firmly in my top 5 favorite authors!
Jack Cavanuagh remains firmly in my top 5 favorite authors!
Read
March 28, 2012How does this book end???
June 11, 2014
Implausible, but memorable. The main character was likeable and relatable.
June 26, 2017
What an amazing book!!!!!!! I read it in one day and it's just as good as his other books. I teared up in parts, the beginning was so sad. It's definitely a must read! I loved it❤️
December 23, 2016
This book was mostly what I was looking for. It was a love story set in WWII, and it was well written. The story is fairly simple, but the characters were well-enough developed and the story kept my interest the whole time. It's an easy read, and, like I said, if you're looking for a simple love story set during WWII, I think this book does a fine job. Only preference would have been a little less about God. I don't want to mislead. There is not a lot about God in this book, but when God is mentioned, the author gets a little preachy. The commentary was Christian for no reason to advance the story but merely to offer explicitly Christian mores. I don't prefer that, but I will reiterate that it is not a dominant part of the book. (I noticed after I finished the book that the author is known for Christian fiction.)
February 15, 2025
Such a good story!
The day of her wedding, Annie Mitchel stops by the cemetery with her bride's maid. She goes to the grave of her first husband, Keith, who died in WWII. She's not certain she should go through with the wedding, she tells her bride's maid, and she always takes things out with Keith. She loves Stan, her groom, but she may love another man-the German soldier who killed Keith.
So she tells her story. She was a nurse with the army and was stationed in Belgium with him. When she receives word that his troop needs medical attention, she takes off to fins him. Nothing could have prepared her for what transpired over the next several days in the forest.
The day of her wedding, Annie Mitchel stops by the cemetery with her bride's maid. She goes to the grave of her first husband, Keith, who died in WWII. She's not certain she should go through with the wedding, she tells her bride's maid, and she always takes things out with Keith. She loves Stan, her groom, but she may love another man-the German soldier who killed Keith.
So she tells her story. She was a nurse with the army and was stationed in Belgium with him. When she receives word that his troop needs medical attention, she takes off to fins him. Nothing could have prepared her for what transpired over the next several days in the forest.
January 26, 2019
4 stars.
Cavanaugh delivers a page turning story about a young Army Nurse who spends her time in Belguim patching up wounded men. Newly married, things take a turn when she is denied leave for her honeymoon. After a series of personal tragedies, she finds herself alone in the forest with the Enemy. But is he really the monster she thinks he is? the ending didn't feel finished to me or my mother so I gave it 4 stars rather than the five that Cavanaugh is usually capable of.
Cavanaugh delivers a page turning story about a young Army Nurse who spends her time in Belguim patching up wounded men. Newly married, things take a turn when she is denied leave for her honeymoon. After a series of personal tragedies, she finds herself alone in the forest with the Enemy. But is he really the monster she thinks he is? the ending didn't feel finished to me or my mother so I gave it 4 stars rather than the five that Cavanaugh is usually capable of.
February 15, 2018
Average! Interesting event towards the middle of the story as our main protagonists although enemies, collide in the Ardennes Forest with awful consequences for our nurse. Found the rest of it a little unbelievable, and the ending rushed.
September 30, 2019
This was going to be a five star rating until the very last sentence! Ending was really no ending we don't know what she was going to do! I hate that. Had I known that ahead of time I probably wouldn't of read it. I really love the book but I don't like books that I don't really know the outcome
February 1, 2022
Refreshing storyline in a saturated genre. The author had good characterization and development. The book had a depth to it that is increasingly rare among Christian fiction. Overall, an enjoyable read. Picked it up today and ended up reading it all.
February 2, 2022
So this is the second time I read this and opinion did not change. Absolutely loved and I cried a lot and that ending was way too abrupt. I mean it's obvious what she decides but I wanted more! Still a wonderful book however!
January 16, 2018
4.5 stars. Very fast, easy read. Unique story.
May 29, 2018
I wish it was longer!
April 8, 2019
Got this in a Christmas book exchange from a book club friend. It was a quick read and pretty enjoyable story (with Christian overtones). I was not a fan of the non-ending though.
July 8, 2019
This book was pretty good. Disappointing ending, though.
December 7, 2019
Really great Christmas book
May 17, 2022
Ugh, I really enjoyed this book but the ending was so abrupt it broke me! I wanted more! I needed to know what happened. I suppose an ambiguous ending is best so I'll retreat.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews