An inspiring tale of women pioneering in fields they were considered unsuited for, but in the wake of war, they had the chance to prove themselves. Daisy Wilder enlists in a secret program to guide pilots into blacked-out airstrips. She must not fail, as one of the men she is attempting to help is the love of her life. The book is rich with description of life on the island. Her team is vital to the war effort. It was a bit more "romance" than I usually like, but learning about the role women played during the war makes that easy to overlook.

I read a lot of historical fiction and most of it has focused on women helping fight the Germans in Paris, I had no idea that similar things were going on in Hawaii!

Daisy Wilder is the strong female main character. She is independent and prefers the company of horses to people. Working at a wealthy horse farm, she leads a fairly happy, but mostly solitary life. Then on December 7th, 1941 the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and her life changed completely.

She is enlisted into a group of women known as WARDS (Women’s Air Raid Defense.) They are trained to guide US pilots and to track enemy flights. She forms a strong friendship with the woman and together they discover a strength that many of them didn’t know they had.

With air raid warnings, the constant threat of attack and top secret locations, this was a side of Hawaii that I didn’t even know existed.

Fine historical fiction with plenty of character development to keep it even more interesting.

I have read all of Sara Ackerman’s books and I haven’t been disappointed once! I love how her books are set in WWII but they always seem to feel different than the usual WWII books that I have read. I think location really plays a part here. All of her books are set in Hawaii, not only does that add an exotic feel to the books, but it makes them feel fresh—like I am reading something totally new!

While her books might have similar themes and settings, I always feel like I am reading something different each time I pick up one of her books. I know that the author has also said a number of times that there are endless tapped into stories in Hawaii and I tend to agree with her. Almost all WWII novels are set in Europe or maybe in Japan but few are exclusively set in Hawaii.

Prior to reading Ackerman’s books, I never had any real desire to visit Hawaii or see Pearl Harbor, but after reading her books and I totally inspired to visit Hawaii and Pearl Harbor in the near future! She writes with such love and passion for the landscape, people, and the island’s history that it is infectious! I absolutely love her books and I highly recommend checking them out especially if you love WWII novels but want something truly different and new!

Summary
An extraordinary story inspired by the real Women’s Air Raid Defense, where an unlikely recruit and her sisters-in-arms forge their place in WWII history.

Daisy Wilder prefers the company of horses to people, bare feet and salt water to high heels and society parties. Then, in the dizzying aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Daisy enlists in a top secret program, replacing male soldiers in a war zone for the first time. Under fear of imminent invasion, the WARDs guide pilots into blacked-out airstrips and track unidentified planes across Pacific skies.

But not everyone thinks the women are up to the job, and the new recruits must rise above their differences and work side by side despite the resistance and heartache they meet along the way. With America’s future on the line, Daisy is determined to prove herself worthy. And with the man she’s falling for out on the front lines, she cannot fail. From radar towers on remote mountaintops to flooded bomb shelters, she’ll need her new team when the stakes are highest. Because the most important battles are fought—and won—together.

This inspiring and uplifting tale of pioneering, unsung heroines vividly transports the reader to wartime Hawaii, where one woman’s call to duty leads her to find courage, strength and sisterhood. (summary from Goodreads)

Review
As expected, Ackerman’s writing drew me in immediately. I loved the descriptions of the landscapes, history and people. I felt like I was right there with the characters and her writing just gets better and better with every book! I was completely drawn in and hooked with this one from the very beginning. While this one did have a romantic component, the focus was more about female relationships/friendships and I thought that was fine, even if I was hoping for a stronger romance this was still a satisfying read.

The historical research was surprisingly well done and presented in an interesting way rather than just facts presented in the story. As a reader I like to be shown historical details within the story and this book did just that. While I don’t know that I would call this book a ‘high brow’ book, it was full of interesting facts and a great story that I think readers will enjoy exploring. I especially liked Daisy’s character. She started out as pretty likable but really grew into her character and role in the story which made me become increasingly more invested in her character and story. She went from just likable to the reason I was reading the story!

Obviously I loved this book. The setting, the history, the characters, the sisterhood, the romance—all of it! It was a wonderful book that I read very quickly and felt satisfied with when I was done. I learned about the Women’s Air Raid Defense program and felt the changes within the characters as they became involved in WARP. If you love WWII novels with some romance and an exotic location you need to stop your search right now and go pick up this book! You will not be sorry!

Book Info and Rating
Format368 pages, Paperback

PublishedJuly 27, 2021 by MIRA

ISBN9780778332046 (ISBN10: 0778332047)

Free review copy provided by publisher, MIRA and Harlequin, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.

Rating: 5 stars

Genre: romance, war romance, historical fiction

I have read all of Ackerman's published novels, the first for me being The Lieutenant's Nurse which I read in Hawaii, near Pearl Harbor. For that reason (not to down play how much I enjoyed the other books) it will always be at the top of my list.

Radar Girls transported me back in time with vivid imagery of life in Hawaii. I could feel the ocean, sand and salt. I sensed the nervous unrest in the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor. I was welcomed as one of the girls, making new friends with strong women, learning and working as a WARD on the island while proudly wearing my Victory Red.

I've read a lot of WWII Historical Fiction and it's always refreshing to read about a new aspect from that time in history, in this case the Women's Air Raid Defense. Ackerman wove a beautiful story about strength, courage, friendship - and a little romance. I really enjoyed the character Daisy and watching her grow.

I was looking forward to reading this story. The cover is fantastic and the blurb really captivated me, but somehow I got lost between the lines as it was not what I had in mind but still was good.

Radar Girls is the story of Daisy Wilder a woman who was ready to defend and do what she needed for her country, she liked the adventure life, her taste was more about walking bare feet and spend time around the ocean and horses.

The secondary characters gave so much to the story especially to Daisy, I really enjoy the interaction the friendship the batter between them, my favorite character was Thelma lol because of her name of course even though she had a terrible character, and was not so kind to others.

This was my first WW2 book Located in Hawaii, I didn't know many of the things that happened in Radar Girls, it was very enlightening and enjoyable to read the story of Daisy and her Comrades. and also to see how strong and dedicated they were no matter if many around her doubt them or didn't believe in their work and strength.

Radar Girls is more of a novel than a WW2 story, is more on the romantic, heroine side than the drama side. it is a good book if you're looking for something that is not heavy on drama.

I only gave 3.5 stars to the book because I was really looking for more on the WW2 vibes. I recommend this book.

Radar girls follows Daisy Wilder, a young white woman from the North Shore of O'ahu who has been the poor employee living on a rich family's land most of her life. Her father is deceased and her mother has mental issues. She loves horses and helps care for the horses on the property. That much I gleaned from the first pages of this book and it was rather a weak beginning. I was left rather confused as there were not many details to explain her situation. I guess this was on purpose, as you find out more of her family history later in the book, but I wish I could have felt more connection to Daisy right away. I nearly gave up just then.

The action begins when she is riding a horse on the morning of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the horse runs off. So begins her new life as she loses her job on the property, and she is recruited to help guide pilots back to safety as a "Radar Girl" due to her aptitude for numbers.

Having lived in Hawai'i for many years, I found myself trying to trace Daisy's steps around the island on many occasions. It is clear the author knows the geography of the island. It was interesting learning about the existence of these women. Honestly though, I felt it all a little shallow and everyone seemed to just be happy (other than a few war-related problems). The book wrapped everything up very nicely, but overall it felt just not deep enough.

I appreciated that there was minimal swearing and only mild romance.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I found this book to be a quick read and enjoyed learning about the role these women played during WWII. This book had a little bit of everything - mystery, romance and strong female characters and friendships. Overall very enjoyable!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first book by Sara Ackerman and I really enjoyed it!!! A story of women helping to fight the war and the people who don't believe they are up for the task. This is a strong story about WWII and the triumphs, heartaches, and love!!! I look forward to reading more by this author!!! Read and enjoy!!!

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I enjoyed this WWII book about super strong woman who stepped up after Pearl Harbor. This had excellent storylines, great characters and kept me turning pages late into the night. I will definitely check out author Sara Ackerman's other books and if they are half as good as this one, I'm going to be very busy.

The third book I’ve read from this author, all have been based in Hawaii during World War II, and are based in truth, and each was such a wonderful read and full of ordinary people who experienced and performed extraordinary deeds. And this book is no exception. After Pearl Harbor, the country was at war, men were enlisting in record numbers, and the war effort required support from everyone left behind. This meant, in large part, women who had been, until this point in history, enjoying their lives, working at home and making things comfortable for their families.

In this book, we meet and are given the story from Daisy’s perspective. Not particularly book smart or educated, Daisy prefers animals (particularly horses) to people, and is determined to make her mark in the world. With no-one telling her she can’t. A group is formed, secretly, by the war office, called the Woman’s Air Raid Defense Services. The initial plan is for these women to learn the intricate operation of the newly developed radar technology – in order to provide some sort of early warning to residents in case of bombs, to allied aircraft, and in practice, guide planes onto blacked-out landing strips and airports after their missions. Of course, this was also the time when women were thought to not be up to the task of ‘men’s work’, making their stories (and successes) all the sweeter, and the bonds that were formed between the women of the WARDs, a secret group that couldn’t share their ‘what I did today” real stories even more important.

While many of these (and similar) stories about women’s participation in the war effort have been told, the underlying sweetness here – the characters and the beauty of the island and the women's true determination to make a difference, including the devastation when mistakes are made, or their efforts aren’t quite enough bringing the ‘we are in this together’ sense of the time long past to light. Engaging, enlightening and truly enjoyable, Ackerman’s honoring of both the people and the islands of Hawaii shines through.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aXs /”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Review will be posted on 8/20/21

Daisy Wilder is a horse trainer, so when she finds herself as a recruit for the Women's Air Raid Defense, she can't believe it. After the attacks on Pearl Harbor, Daisy finds herself in a top secret program. Her job working for the Air Raid Defense is to guide pilots into blacked-out airstrips as well as tracking unidentified planes. Of course many people feel the women couldn't possibly do a man's job, but Daisy knows she is more than capable and more than ready. Throw in a side of romance with a soldier and the incredible setting of Hawaii, you've got yourself a compelling historical audio book in Radar Girls by Sara Ackerman.

Daisy is the kind of heroine I love to read about in Radar Girls. Eventually she gains the confidence she needs and is determined to not let her country down as she takes on her new role in the Women's Air Raid defense. As a woman, she has to break through many barriers and I was rooting for her the whole time. The camaraderie that she starts to feel for her other female recruits was also something I thoroughly enjoyed. I have been noticing a trend in historical fiction lately in that the books are highlighting lesser known female heroes of wartime and let's just say I'm here for it. I loved learning more about the Women's Air Raid Defense; it was utterly fascinating! Ackerman did a great job researching it and bringing it to life so vividly.

Ackerman also brought to life wartime Hawaii very well in Radar Girls. I absolutely loved the setting and felt like I was there. Whether it was the bomb shelters, the beautiful landscape of the mountains, or the beaches, it was all well done and the setting of Hawaii felt just as important as the character of Daisy.

If you are looking for a compelling audio book or novel to finish out summer season, I'd recommend Radar Girls, especially if you enjoy being transported to a memorable setting. I'd recommend the novel to fans of stories about courageous women during challenging times.

I think the market is getting flooded with these types of stories. While I celebrate the stories of such amazing women, I feel like I have read this before. I would recommend checking this out at the library.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book fast and enjoyed the story and the historical aspects as I learned about a group of important women during WWII. The mystery was compelling and the romance nice. It was a good, quick read that I enjoyed.

The story of the "Radar Girls", women who guided the pilots home during WWII. These women were pushed into service after the attack on Pearl Harbor. They became invaluable to the war effort and came together despite differences in class, race, and nationality. Great character and setting descriptions, and a plot that moved along nicely without rushing to the end.

Thanks to NetGalley & Harlequin for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Radar Girls follows the little known group of women who helped US troops tremendously during WW2. The Women's Air Raid Defense team was full of hardworking women that were hoping to bring their husbands, sons, cousins, etc, back from war. The girls quickly bond with one another and they support each other when facing rampant sexism within the military.

I don't usually read much historical fiction but this was easy to get into and fun to read. I had trouble keeping up with the names, but that's a minor issue. Overall, a fun yet informative historical fiction book that's sure to please!

I loved this book so much. The history was rich and well researched, I loved the glimpse into the world of the WARDs. The struggles that they faced, the sacrifices made, and the hard work they put into the work. Even though this was a work of fiction, you know that the actual women probably faced similar struggles. I thought Daisy was a strong character, she was smart and wanted to be the best at what she could do. I loved Fluff and Betty and all the others girls cause the community they brought and how they supported each other. I also loved Daisy and Walkers relationship, it had its rough patches but when it came down to it they realized how much they cared for each other.

I liked this book a lot. It was a very interesting story about the WARDs, women who were recruited into military service in Hawaii during WWII when the men had to leave their posts to fight. It was great to learn about this little known part of history (at least to me) and I loved the strong female characters and they bonds they formed. The second story line with Daisy, the Montgomerys, and Moon was slightly distracting. I know it gave the story some more personality and color, but at times it almost seemed to clash with the other important work that was going on. I might have focused on additional girls' stories instead of fleshing out Daisy's life like that? I also thought the end tied up a little too nicely for my taste in historical fiction. Overall, worth the read and quite entertaining - I had a hard time putting it down.

This wonderful historical fiction story by Sara Ackerman was inspired by the Women's Air Raid Defense during WWII. One outstanding thing about this story is that these women, in particular Daisy Wilder, were involved in top-secret training. I had to smile when they were asked more than once to identify themselves and their work, and they stated "top secret".

Pearl Harbor had suffered a devastating attack. Daisy and other woman were trained to replace and assist male soldiers and were tasked with memorizing countless codes and more as they helped pilots in the air while under precarious situations.

I have read some other books of exceptional women during this very difficult time in history and Radar Girls ranks right there with them. While focusing on keeping pilots safe in the sky, Daisy's heart soon became entangled with one of the pilot's, Walker Montgomery. Actually, Daisy and Walker had known one another for years. In fact, Daisy had worked for his father while training horses. As Walker was tasked with the job of chauffeuring Daisy around the two had a difficult path to romance and I loved how their story was evenly threaded through the pages of this novel.

Not only did I enjoy learning what these women did during the war effort, I loved the camaraderie among them while training, even when they had to deal with the loss that comes with war. Radar Girls was a captivating story of bravery, intelligence, friendship and even adventure. I was filled with pride for the gumption shown by Daisy and the other women.

Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Daisy Wilder is a captivating heroine! A girl living on the margins of wealthy Hawaiian society, she is closer to the horses she tends than to the ranchers who own them. She is accidentally drawn in to a recruiting drive to hire women to staff the advance radar stations that will keep Hawaii and the mainland of the US safe from bomber attacks in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor.

There is plenty of history to interest the reader, along with a generous helping of female friendship and romance.

I enjoyed this book, and recommend it to both historical and romance fiction fans.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Love Sara's style of writing and the unique history that she brings to live. It was a fell thought out and planned book that I absolutely enjoyed.