Flying Angels : A Novel

Flying Angels by Danielle Steel takes us back to the late 1930s and early 1940s as brave women (nurses) enlist. We follow a handful of young women who are nurses. After receiving their training, the women transfer to become flight nurses. These women travel by plane to get the wounded and take them back to England for care. These women never knew if they would make it back with the Germans shooting down planes and the frequent bombings. I liked the characters in this story. Audrey was an especially sweet young woman who endured such loss. I thought the story contained good writing and developed characters. The book moved along at a good pace as well once we got past the nurse's backstories. Once the book moved into the area where the nurses began training to become flight nurses, the story just flew by. There was a little too much repetition of details. I got it the first time and I do not need to be told multiple times. I thought the author captured how it felt for the flight nurses and pilots. I enjoyed reading about the nurse's missions. The tragic injuries and the number of deaths. Flying Angels is not a happy-go-lucky story. There is quite a bit of loss in this story. It was great to see the nurse's bond. They did not care about the person's background or color. We got to see how a black nurse was treated in America and how she was treated in England. It is sad how far behind America was then and now. I am glad that the author wrote this story about the brave women who enlisted to aid our injured soldiers. They risked their lives the same as any male soldier. The death toll was tragic along with the injuries soldiers suffered. I enjoyed this poignant historical novel. Flying Angels is a touching tale with tragedy, heartbreak, dedication, courage, optimism, and valor.