The title of the book is what drew me in first, then to see that it is another installment of the Heroines of World War II series sealed the deal for me. Barbour Books gleans from the best authors to bring these stand-alone novels together, each encompassing a part of life during World War II and how women also worked together with our military to bring the war to a close.
Mary Wishram is a Yakama Indian stationed in San Diego working for the Navy Base there. She has just gotten word that her only living relative has been captured by the Japanese and is being held in the Philippines. Her commanding officer, Catherine, has a special job for her beyond just making deliveries around the base--one that will send her to the Philippines close to where her brother is being held. Mary's role will be to listen to conversations around her and radio information to her superiors on the island. Her cover will be as a nun working in a hospital.
John Painted Horse is a Navajo who is being asked to be a Code Talker. He and Mary met at a dinner given by his commanding officer, who was Mary's CO's husband. He is also being assigned to the Philippines where Mary will be. Unbeknownst to either of them, they are both in the same vicinity and miss connecting with each other several times throughout the events of the book.
Debby Lee has included all kinds of characters in this book: good guys and villains, and a few in between. The strongest supporting characters give a good picture of true friendship in trying times. I love these books that expose details about World War II through the eyes of characters who may not have been real people, but are based in part on the actions of real people. Debby has done a fine job with that.
This isn't an easy read for an afternoon's entertainment, but it is a good book to read for the intrinsic value it provides.
Five Stars
Barbour Books provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
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