A review by guylou
Mercy Road by Ann Howard Creel

4.0

After the loss of her father to a house fire, and facing imminent financial ruin, Arlene accepts a position of ambulance driver with the AWH in France. As part of her employment, Arlene must never put herself in a compromising position which could bring shame to the AWH. The money she will make, if she stays to the end of the war, will be enough to rebuild their home and continue her father’s Thoroughbred stud service with her younger brother Luc. Being an ambulance driver in war-torn France is not an easy job and can lead to an emotional impediment. Although she is witnessing the horror of the war, Arlene works without rest to bring as many injured to the makeshift hospitals. Some make it, some don’t. While in France, she attracts the attention of Captain Felix Brohammer. Captain Brohammer is not all he appears to be, and Arlene does all she can to dissuade him while trying to prove that he is not an honest man. Arlene reunites with her childhood friend, Jimmy Tucker, who is also an ambulance driver, and there are strong feelings between them. Captain Brohammer is a jealous and dangerous man. Will Arlene’s love for Jimmy put her into danger?

Mercy Road is a wonderful historical book about the role of the American Women’s Hospital (AWH) during WWI. The book is beautifully written and takes you on the journey of its wonderful characters. If you enjoy wartime historical books, this one is definitely a great one.