I always love and appreciate historical fiction, and especially historical fiction from World War I and II. Ann Howard Creel draws the reader in from page 1, a skill I'm learning is not easy for all authors, yet she hooks you with her word craft and the storyline. Thank you for allowing me to review this book.

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
First time reading this Author and thoroughly enjoyed her book
A Tale of how women fought just as hard during war time being in the ambulance service in France was no easy job for these American ladies great story can highly recommend.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review (thanks #netgalley and Lake Union Publishing!).

Everything Ann Howard Creel writes is magic, mesmerizing, transforming. I’m not usually a huge fan of WWI fiction... this novel changes that. I didn’t read the description before diving in, so each turn of the page was a surprise, and I really liked it that way!! The shock of it all - whether loosing her father, her search for a job, France, the war-torn villages... it was all a surprise and SO well done.

It’s a coming-of-age, a gentle romance (aka not too heavy on the romance), and historical fiction all rolled into one. Set against the backdrop of France at the end of WWI, it dives into the lives of the volunteers in the American Women’s Hospital, a true but little-told story. In a novel, I do love a strong female lead but also love a little sweet, hometown romance... perfect blend.

It’s not a “heavy” read; definitely a page-turner and a delight!

Review also posed to Goodreads.

This is the first book that I have read by this author and although it's fiction, the story of the American women's ambulances in the first world is based on fact. There is an inevitability about the story but it doesn't make it any less interesting or compelling. I enjoyed the book and will look out for more by this author

This book is just beautiful!

This is about a young lady who was faced with a responsibility to support her family after an awful tragedy. She applied for a job as an ambulance driver with an all-woman team of doctors and nurses that will be going to France to help with the war efforts. A captain showed interest on her and asked her for a date, even though she was there for a job and not for any love affair. Then one day, while she was driving an ambulance through war-stricken places, she met Jimmy. A young man who used to work for her father as a stable boy. They sort of rekindled what they secretly have back in Kentucky. Just before the war ended, she was sent back home because of a choice she made. With a salary that is not even enough to rebuild the house that her family used to live in before the fire.

What kept me interested about this book is how the situations and places are being described so exhaustively that it kind of does take you to the war. Another thing that I also loved are the characters. They are people I can relate to. There was one twist in the characters that surprised me and how it was being viewed back then. Last but not least, who does not love wartime love? Wow. I can't imagine falling in love back then. How uncertain things are and how living in the moment and being present with the one you love is so important as another meeting may never happen again. Arlene, indeed is a lovable character, and Jimmy. Oh, Jimmy. A sweet gentleman through and through.

#MercyRoad #NetGalley
It’s 1918. There is a war going on in Europe. American soldiers are dying.
This story is about Arlene Favier from Paris, Kentucky. Her family home on the horse farm is destroyed by fire, setting off a series of events. Her necessary job hunting ends up with her becoming an ambulance driver in France. Through her eyes we witness the horrors of war and the injuries and deaths of soldiers and civilians as well. There are secret romances since fraternizing is grounds for dismissal.
The author, Ann Howard Creel, has written a compelling novel showcasing how American women medical teams contributed to the war effort. Her characters seem so real.
The women of the American Women’s Hospital were real!
This is a hard book to put down!

Thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I was not familiar with this author before receiving Mercy Road. I liked the cover, was intrigued by the summary, and was luckily chosen to read an ARC. I am grateful I got to read Mercy Road and would love to read more by Ann Howard Creel. Mercy Road was well written with interesting characters that I easily became attached to. I liked the background based on historical events that provide a different perspective of what those times were like to really live in. Arlene, the main character, is a strong female who was always a little independent against the norms for women at that time. She loved working with horses in her family's business and looked forward to it as a career rather then following most young women her age towards marriage. When her father is killed unexpectedly in a fire that destroys their home and business, Arlene decides to move to a bigger city in hope of a job that will provide for her mother and brother as they rebuild. She is able to secure a job as a female ambulance driver in France, her Father's birthplace, during World War I. It was exciting and interesting to be on this journey with Arlene as she meets other strong women trying to make a place in the medical field during the war. We experience the fear of being in a war zone, the devastation of arriving in villages destroyed and the people left fighting to survive, and the stress and heartbreak of being far from home in the only way to bring your family back together again. An enjoyable and interesting read.

Another fabulous historical fiction read. This is set in France during WWI and introduces us to the female staffed American Women's Hospital with a particular focus on the ambulance drivers. All of these women struggle to be recognized and accepted in a male arena, all amidst the chaos and terror of war. Through the eyes of the main character Arlene, we encounter her new friendships and alliances, her personal fears and bravery. It was well written, meticulously researched with characters I could easily identify with. I really enjoy strong female characters in strong roles so this was a double win. I will definitely have to read more of her novels. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC. 4.5 rounded up

Arlene does what she has to in order to support her family during WWI so she becomes an ambulance driver on the front lines in France. This book was very good and had me captivated from the first page. It is a book of strength and fortitude with a little romance mixed in.
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I simply adored this book. The main character grabs you right away and you completely know why she's doing what she's doing. I couldn't put this down and read it within two days. So glad I came across this book.

With this novel, you will uncover an almost lost chapter in US and French history, that of the American Women's Hospital, a medical team of volunteers who went to the aid of France during the Great War. Our heroine is an ambulance driver, who is deeply rendered, sympathetic, and likable. The details are interesting, and the love story evolves sweetly and naturally. A great book.

A well-researched novel that gave an interesting perspective to WWI. It was a nice easy read and followed the pattern of a sweeping war drama. I don't feel like the characters had enough depth to keep me hooked and some of their lines felt a little staged or stilted. I would have liked a little more but I think it would make a satisfying holiday read.

I’ve mentioned before learning a lot about women’s roles during WWI and WWII. This book was written about the American Women’s Hospital. It was formed due to the fact that female doctors were not allowed to serve in the Army medical corps. Through private donations and Red Cross funding, female doctors formed a group including nurses and ambulance drivers that went to France to help local villagers as well as assist the Army when they were overwhelmed, which was much of the time. While there is a great bit of detail included about the courageous women who created the AWH, this is the story of Arlene Favier who has lost her family home and her father in a fire and must find work in order to rebuild her family horse farm and help her mother and brother. Arlene finds a job as an ambulance driver with the American Women’s Hospital and heads to France. During her time she reconnects with Jimmy Tucker who used to work on her family farm. They have a special bond that began when they were teenagers. She also draws the unwanted attentions of an American Army Captain, who is not only persistent, but dangerous as well. Without giving too much away this is a well written story about how a young pampered woman discovers a strength that she did not know that she possessed, friendships which people unlike any she has met before and the power of love that perseveres to create a life when she thought hers was all but over. I found this to be an engaging book, and the suspenseful story line with the American Captain kept me on my toes. Good plot and excellent character development. This was an advanced copy that had not yet been proofed, but the writing was exceptional, and frankly I found fewer errors in this book than those that have already been published. Thank you Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book.

What I love about Ann Howard Creel's books are the way they stay with you, long after you've finished them, and I am sure that this is going to happen again for me with her upcoming release, Mercy Road.

I have just finished Mercy Road, thanks to NetGalley and to Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Somehow, Ann Howard Creel's characters get under my skin and Arlene is a woman for whom I felt empathy from the very first page, when a terrible tragedy causes her to lose everything she has ever known. I felt that I was there with her as she made tough decisions against the backdrop of the First World War, ultimately taking up the opportunity to go to France to serve as an Ambulance driver, just as a group of US women did during that terrible time.

It was at times, a delight to follow Arlene's journey when she had the chance to live a little and when the chance for love broke through. At other times, Arlene's story and the stories from the battlefields in France is moving, heartbreaking. Ann Howard Creel's description of the chaos and personal tragedy for the French people and for the soldiers of World War One has clearly been impeccably researched.

Other things I loved about this book were Ann's almost dreamy descriptions of France. I thought these were extremely well done. The way she was able to find beauty in such brutal times added so much to this memorable book. Ultimately, the characters take their own journeys, and they learn along the way.

I recommend that anyone who is interested in history and who enjoys a good story will be moved by this remarkable book.

Desperate for money after the family home burns down, Arlene joins the American Women’s Hospital ambulance driving team and heads to France.
I wanted to like this a lot more than I did.
I thought the parts about driving an ambulance through air strikes and the toll being at war has on a person were far more interesting than the romance introduced here.
The descriptive copy suggests that there’s a love triangle, but that’s misleading, as one of the potential lovers is immediately dismissed by the heroine. He’s still important to the story, though his contributions seem very author-driven and his ending is barely mentioned in passing, which is not proportionate to his supposed importance to the plot.
I like books about women at war, but this was not a satisfying read for me.

Beautifully written historical novel. The writing style and character development of this book flowed from page to page. Loved reading about the resilience and determination to survive amidst heartache and turmoil. Highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

Arlene and her family are left destitute, by a fire, and the death of her father. While her heart lies with horses, and her families stud breading business, Arlene must finds ways to finance a new house and a new stallion. After joining the American Women's Hospital she is sent to France during WWI to drive ambulances.

This book had a bit of a slow start. Once Arlene was sent to France, the book picked up dramatically. I loved reading about women in WWI and the unique American Women's Hospital group. Overall 4 out of 5 stars.

In 1917, Arlene Favier leaves Kentucky after a fire burns down her childhood home. Suddenly in desperate need of money, Arlene finds herself as an ambulance driver in war-torn France with the female-led American Women’s Hospital. She and her fellow female ambulance drivers, nurses, doctors, and surgeons face danger and unparalleled tragedy as they care for civilians and soldiers at the Front.

While working, Arlene catches the attention of a suave but treacherous Captain Felix Brohammer and reunites with childhood friend Jimmy Tucker, leading to a precarious love triangle that threatens both Jimmy and Arlene’s futures.

I really enjoyed the history and the story in Mercy Road. I did not know about the American Women’s Hospital before reading, so it was a lot of fun to learn about such a strong and brave group of ladies. The supporting cast of characters is colorful and entertaining, and the descriptions of the French countryside and the work done by the AWH were obviously well-researched.

I am a sucker for a wartime romance, so Arlene and Jimmy’s relationship would have been enjoyable enough for me. But the added drama and plot twists with Captain Brohammer were just so exciting and made the book that much better.

However, I struggled a bit with the writing style of the author. There were enough awkwardly constructed sentences for it to be distracting to me. And I found the ending disappointing and short. I would have loved a few more chapters.

But overall, the story is 100% worthwhile and I will definitely read other books by this author.

(Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.)

*ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Rating (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being excellent)
Quality of writing: 4
Pace: 3
Plot development: 4
Characters: 4
Enjoyability: 4
Ease of Reading: 5

Overall rating: 4 out of 5

I truly enjoyed this book! It was a stirring and thought provoking story during a time of time in history that was truly dark! I felt a part of the story and moved through the scenes as if there! It almost made me wish I could have been a part of the AWH! As a nurse myself, I appreciated so much the efforts of these women! History come alive for me is truly something I can get into! Thank you for such a great story