Flying angels by Danielle Steele

​"Flying angels" by Danielle Steele - A historical fiction!

This book is published by Macmillan in 2021 and has 288 pages.

It’s WW II.  Americans Audrey, Lizzy, Alex, Louise and British Prudence, Emma come from very different backgrounds. They have little in common in upbringing. They are all driven. They are beautiful. They want to serve their country. They are all nurses. They fly. 

Do they meet each other? Will they be friends? Where will they serve? Will they survive the war?

Audrey becomes nurse to take care for her mother suffering from Parkinson's. Lizzy comes from a family of doctors but is denied becoming a doctor because she was a girl. Alex comes from an aristocratic family and doesn't subscribe to the idea of 'coming out' and finding a husband. Louise is only child and a black beauty brought up in the times of racism. Prudence is daughter of Lord and Lady Palmary. She isn’t snobbish. Emma is from poor neighborhood of East London. She fights the perils of poverty. 

The story happens on either side of 1940, the time of WWII. All of them enroll in army and further into the flying nurses division tasked to airlift the injured soldiers and try to save them. It’s a hard work but they do it willingly. During the war some of them also meet their love. But not everyone survives. 

Although they are exceptionally brave girls working in perilous situations, they are essentially girls next door. They too have aspirations, they have their more than fair share of losses. 

Author has narrated the story matter of factly. She doesn’t create any drama. This lack of drama and emotions make it appear more like sequence of events rather than a story. 

When one starts reading the book, one thinks that this is Audrey and Lizzy’s story. But then the other four characters enter. If author has shortened earlier part and has given more time for background of other four characters, it might have created balance. Characters are good. Readers connect with them. 

Why did I read this book? Author

What I didn't like? Two quick deaths. 

What did I like? Characters. 

Read if you have a lot of time.