"With Every Letter" Book 1 of Sarah Sundin's "Wings of the Nightingale" TrilogyLt. Mellie Blake is a flight nurse in North Africa during WWII. She grew up traipsing through jungles after her botanist father and has never had a friend-not a real one anyway. Just cut-out magazine pictures that she posted in a scrapbook and made up stories about them and her. Once in No. Africa, she is thrust into the middle of a squadron of nurses. Shy, unaccustomed to small talk, her flight leader orders her to make friends or else she will go back to the States and serve there.She starts corresponding with an anonymous soldier, Lt. Tom MacGilliver, who also has self-esteem issues. His farther was executed as a murderer. And the stigma of being the son of a murderer has followed him all his life, even into the Army since none of his platoon will follow his orders. He is afraid to discipline them because he might turn out to be like his father. Anonymous letters fly back and forth between the two as they each have something the other needs in their life. They find that they have much in common and encourage each other when they share their problems.Soon they are stationed in nearby areas and Mellie meets Tom and realizes that he is her anonymous friend. She struggles with fears since it seems that Tom doesn't want to have anything to do with her. When Tom writes that he wants them to meet in person, Mellie can't because she believes that she is too ugly and that she will lose Tom's friendship. Each of them are being held back from a wonderful future because of the hold their pasts have on them.This is a story that everyone will relate to since we all struggle with self-worth and doubt at times. A finely crafted masterpiece with images so vivid , I could feel the heat of the desert and the acrid stench of blood in the air. If you haven't read Sarah Sundin's World War II novels, maybe you should. This writer knows her history, and she knows how to put it together in a way that makes it a joy to learn about this period in history. With Every Letter is a story about a Filipino-American nurse, a young woman certain her exotic looks make her an object of scorn and someone to be shunned. She avoids friendships, especially with men. The only time and place where Mellie feels at ease is when she's singing to and caring for patients, war victims.Her head nurse believes in her, but knows nursing takes teamwork. She has given Mellie an ultimatum--make friends or go home. So Mellie tries. In addition, Lieutenant Newman tells Mellie she must write anonymous letters to one of the homesick engineers. Reluctantly, she agrees. The letter she writes is thrown in the trash by the man who receives it.One of the Engineers, Tom, doesn't like the letter that comes to him--the writer seems too flamboyant for him--but he sees the one dumped into the trash and exchanges his for that one. The woman seems a perfect match for him--not wanting any attachment, only friendship and anonymity.When circumstances of the war throw them into the same area, that anonymity is threatened. They have revealed too much of their inner thoughts, fears, and hopes. Now what?
What do You think about With Every Letter (2012)?
Fantastic! Absolutely loved every aspect! You can be sure, I'll be reading the rest of this series!
—Wjbick17
This book made me want to get to know the characters more. So I will read the next one.
—witchhuntress
Incredible! What a love story! This story is full of surprises around every bend.
—Rikke
REALLY enjoyed reading With Every Letter!! :)
—dancer227
Great story about a WW2 pen pal romance.
—97_sarah
