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Fire by Night
Fire by Night | Teresa Messineo
A powerful and evocative debut novel about two American military nurses during World War II that illuminates the unsung heroism of women who risked their lives in the fight--a riveting saga of friendship, valor, sacrifice, and survival combining the grit and selflessness of Band of Brothers with the emotional resonance of The Nightingale.In war-torn France, Jo McMahon, an Italian-Irish girl from the tenements of Brooklyn, tends to six seriously wounded soldiers in a makeshift medical unit. Enemy bombs have destroyed her hospital convoy, and now Jo singlehandedly struggles to keep her patients and herself alive in a cramped and freezing tent close to German troops. There is a growing tenderness between her and one of her patients, a Scottish officer, but Jo's heart is seared by the pain of all she has lost and seen. Nearing her breaking point, she fights to hold on to joyful memories of the past, to the times she shared with her best friend, Kay, whom she met in nursing school.Half a world away in the Pacific, Kay is trapped in a squalid Japanese POW camp in Manila, one of thousands of Allied men, women, and children whose fates rest in the hands of a sadistic enemy. Far from the familiar safety of the small Pennsylvania coal town of her childhood, Kay clings to memories of her happy days posted in Hawaii, and the handsome flyer who swept her off her feet in the weeks before Pearl Harbor. Surrounded by cruelty and death, Kay battles to maintain her sanity and save lives as best she can . . . and live to see her beloved friend Jo once more.When the conflict at last comes to an end, Jo and Kay discover that to achieve their own peace, they must find their place--and the hope of love--in a world that's forever changed. With rich, superbly researched detail, Teresa Messineo's thrilling novel brings to life the pain and uncertainty of war and the sustaining power of love and friendship, and illuminates the lives of the women who risked everything to save others during a horrifying time.
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violabrain
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Pickpick

This book was incredible! I have read a lot of World War II novels, but I think this is the first one I‘ve read that focuses on the experience of nurses. A really wonderful read.

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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
Fire by Night | Teresa Messineo
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Happy #NursesDay to all of the hard working nurses out there fighting the fight!! YOU make the difference everyday! I know you don‘t get told enough that you are appreciated but YOU ARE!! I have been out of direct patient care for one year, a nurse for 23... I‘m praying for everyone 🙏🏻❤️ Drop your name in the comments and what area you work in!! Thank you for all you do!! ❤️🙏🏻💪🏻

#MagicalMay

Eggs Lovely tribute 5y
Beatlefan129 I‘m out of direct patient care as well, in my current role I‘m the nurse manager of a regional Poison Control Center. It‘s fascinating work (telephone triage) and I‘m happy to have found my niche in the nursing field 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Beatlefan129 I‘m in our transfer center so we are doing similar things! So thankful for this job!! 5y
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs thank you ❤️❤️ 5y
starlight97 I'm at the very exciting ER, loving it 😁❤ 4y
VioletBramble I just saw this. This coming July I will have been a Pediatric nurse for 30 years. Started in Peds Research and moved to General Peds. Currently working Adult Covid ICU and step down like all the nurses in my NYC hospital. We‘re hoping to have the kids back on June 15th or shortly after. I can‘t wait. 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @starlight97 ❤️❤️❤️ Be safe!!! 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @VioletBramble thank you for what you do and be safe ❤️❤️❤️ 4y
starlight97 @VioletBramble that sounds tough. Keep up the good work! 💛 4y
76 likes9 comments
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Eggs Perfect choice & photo!! Beautiful! Have you read it? (edited) 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs thank you!! Lol! No, not yet!! 💜💜 Have you?? 5y
Eggs I have and it was great HF 5y
84 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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AuthorJensenReed
Fire by Night | Teresa Messineo
Mehso-so

I loved the present story that was told. I loved the characters and some of the lines were beaitiful, heartbreaking, and poetic. But there was SO MANY jumps to the past and none of them were separated clearly. It was really off-putting. Then the whole book was from thr POV of two best friends who were separated by war. But we never got their reunion! Just the "I'm going to see this one" at the end. Bleh.

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AuthorJensenReed
Fire by Night | Teresa Messineo
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I love this line

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Eggs
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Historical fiction requires extensive research and listening to stories from those who lived the history. Here are the stories of 2 Army nurses in WW2, one in Africa, one in Manila. They survive bombs, starvation, typhoid and other inhumane treatment; including what we now know as PTSD.

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SassyBookworm
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Pickpick

This was a wonderful WWII book about two nurses (friends) who had two completely different experiences. Both suffered hardships and loss. One definitely had it worse than the other. But still a wonderful look into what it was like to be a war nurse! Only thing I didn‘t like was the ending was kind of abrupt. I would have liked a little more there, but otherwise overall great book!

#SassyBookworm 😏 #HistoricalFiction #Nursing #WWII

MrsSpencer Oh, this sounds like something I will love! 7y
SassyBookworm @MrsSpencer it was great! And if you like books along this line check out Wives of War! It was an excellent nurse story too! 7y
mrozzz Hmm. Sounds good! 7y
MrsSpencer @Chrysta23 I will, thanks so much for the recommendation! 7y
97 likes4 stack adds4 comments
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mommamatch
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Mehso-so

A story of two nurses and their different experiences in WWII. Great story, great characters, however I found the writing to be a bit over dramatic at times.

RaimeyGallant Nice review. :) And welcome to Litsy! #LitsyWelcomeWagon Some of us put together Litsy tips to help new Littens navigate the site. It's the link in my bio on my page in case you need it. 7y
SassyBookworm Welcome to Litsy!!! The best bookish community ever!!! I‘m reading this right now! Thank you for the review!!! I have noticed it jumps around a lot and I‘ve had to re-read parts to understand exactly what is going on! I wish there were clearer divisions with present/past experiences for each nurse. 7y
Kaye Welcome 🌸 7y
BookaholicNatty @mommamatch welcome welcome welcome! So glad you have joined us book lovers! You will adore this community!! #LitsyWelcomeWagon 7y
10 likes1 stack add4 comments
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mommamatch
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Good start to the morning! #matchbooks

Dpotter @mommamatch Love your mug!! 😊❤️ 7y
mommamatch @Dpotter 😊Birthday gift from the girls 7y
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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#🔥
#thisremindsmeofsomething

I really need to get to the tagged book!! I‘ve heard it‘s really good and about a nurse ❤️

DebinHawaii I really enjoyed it--a different perspective about WWII from two nurses. 📚👍 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @DebinHawaii yay!!!! Thank you!!! 👍🏻📚💕 7y
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jbhops
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Today I finished The Fire by Night and The Fix. Both books I am very happy I read. I also spent 2 hours trying not to micromanage my daughter decorating cookies, 4 hours visiting neighbors with her, an hour on the phone with work even though I'm off and 2 hours driving back to our old house to get a package someone sent there (we moved 1.5 years ago...) I'm pooped.

readinginthedark Whew, busy day! 7y
[DELETED] 3803335244 Now you can enjoy your cookies! They look so good ❤️ 7y
batsy Those cookies look so festive! 🎄⛄💜 7y
erzascarletbookgasm The cookies look so good! 7y
49 likes4 comments
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jbhops
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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It's the start of 6 days off for me. This is my happy place. Not shown, husband on one side, kiddo on the right. If only my fireplace worked...

I'm so excited for this book, @A_planNerd !

Mollyanna Mmmm... Yuengling beer. We have great beer here in Wisconsin, but I do miss Yuengling. 7y
jbhops @Mollyanna they didn't have it here in NC when we first moved down. I'm so happy Budweiser distributes it now. 7y
A_planNerd Sounds like a perfect setting 🎄☃️ 7y
28 likes3 comments
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intothehallofbooks
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Pickpick

I chose to read this book because the two POVs telling the story are nurses serving in WWII-I'm a nurse! Jo is somewhere on The Western Front and Kay is at Pearl Harbor. Both POVs are so compelling that I devoured this story. Jo's part of the story is my favorite because the intensity feels consistent but Kay's feels most emotive. The post-war end-portion isn't my favorite part, but I think this is because I was very drawn to the nursing aspects.

Sills I need to add this to my list. I am a lover of historical fiction🙂 7y
60 likes1 comment
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InnerSavvy
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Pickpick

The writing was excellent. I felt the horror, the desperation, the starvation, and hopelessness that sometimes I had to stop reading. Highly recommend.

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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Cinfhen You do love a good WWII novel😍 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Cinfhen I do!!! And I‘m a nurse!! I‘ve just got so many to read! I‘ve been taking a break from them lately, but I‘ll get back to them ❤️ 7y
InnerSavvy Definitely read this. Powerful stories of 2 nurses in WWII 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @InnerSavvy I‘ll move it up!!! 👍🏻 7y
InnerSavvy 😁 7y
81 likes5 comments
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InnerSavvy
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Almost half way done...this one is hard to read but oh so well written.

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MelindaOtt
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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This book did it...it made me cry in public. AND I'M NOT EVEN DONE YET!

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MelindaOtt
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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I have this one coming up for review next week and I'm just now getting to it! Yikes! Good thing it is an action-packed attention-getter!
#books #currentlyreading #amreading #tlcbooktours #historicalfiction #TheFireByNight #TeresaMessineo @TLCBookTours

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BookNAround
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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I'd have to be a Hershey's Tropical Bar. Apparently they don't melt. Thanks for the fun @JoeStalksBeck

JoeStalksBeck Lol!!! Excellent! 7y
28 likes1 comment
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Reganw
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Pickpick

World War II from the perspective of two nurses - friends serving in different parts of the world. One of those slow burns that stick with you...

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DebinHawaii
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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90sinJuly #TonightTonight ?There are no "tonight" titled books on my shelves & e-books, but there are several with night in the title that work for today's prompt. A little fictional variety here: WWII historical, black musicians in jazz-age China, creepy suspense, silly paranormal, poetry, & mystery/thriller shorts.?It's not tonight, tonight yet here-it's mid-afternoon, but I am more than ready to call it a day & settle in tonight. #longweek ?

Demanda The Night Sister was SOOOOOO FUN 7y
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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So these are the #war books I have in my tbr pile... I need to get busy!!! And stop buying more books!! I have 43 total books to be read... I don't think that's terrible 😊😐📚❤️ #Maybookflowers

Andrew65 Some great books in this pile. 7y
Zelma Ooh, The Book Thief! Highly recommend that sooner than later. 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Andrew65 thank you!! 😊😊 7y
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Zelma I'll move it up! 😘 7y
Andrew65 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Zelma I would also strongly recommend The Book Thief, a great book. 7y
Andrew65 The same for 7y
Cinfhen You have some REALLY AWESOME books in that stack 😻😻 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Cinfhen thank you!!! I wish I could just read all day!!! ❤️📚 7y
ValerieAndBooks Nice stack -- the only one I've read from that is 7y
Tamra Great stacks! I'm afraid to count TBR, I choose to be in denial. 😑 I need to do some speed dating ala @ReadingEnvy . 7y
LeslieO Those all sound good. I wish you could flag books in a blurb so we could read or stack more from one post. I think you can only flag a book in a comment, no? (edited) 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @LeslieO you are right! I wish they would fix that!! 😊😊 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Tamra I know!!! And I'm wanting to go to Goodwill today because they are having 40% off!!! 😊😊😊📚📚📚📚 7y
Tamra @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks oh, I definitely wouldn't pass that up! 😲 I spend more time shopping & reading about books than reading. 7y
ReadingEnvy @Tamra yesssss speed.dating 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Tamra me too and lots of time on Litsy 😳😊 7y
rjnellie Start with The Book Thief! 😊 7y
61 likes18 comments
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DebinHawaii
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Day20 #MayBookFlowers #War When it comes to wars & reading, WWII stories are what I gravitate to. I've read quite a few fiction & non-fiction WWII books over the years & have many favorites but I decided to go with the six WWII books that I've read (so far) in 2017. The top three are library reads, the bottom three I read for book tour reviews on my blog. One non-fiction & five novels. All had me fully absorbed & moved me as good war books do.💜😢

Cinfhen I haven't read any 🙈but a few are on my TBR!!! 7y
Lwiesman I love reading WWII books! (edited) 7y
LeeRHarry Great selection - I love the between shades of gray cover 😊 (edited) 7y
101 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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My Thriftbooks purchase for $22.00!! Except the Slightly South of Simple and I got it on amazon because I love her books and couldn't wait!! Ok, I have to stop buying books now!! I'm done!!

Zelma I need to stop too, but am already planning a used book store visit today or tomorrow. 😂 8y
46 likes1 comment
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DebinHawaii
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Day30 #AprilBookShowers #BestofApril My April stats are still to come & there were lots of books that I enjoyed, but I think I can safely say that these four books are my favorites for April. Two are WW2 historical fiction with unique perspectives & I loved the audiobook of Norse Mythology read by Gaiman & the audiobook of Tell the Wolves I'm Home. Honorable mentions also go to Columbine, We Are Okay, & The Color of Our Sky. ☔️📚👍

erzascarletbookgasm I have TTWIH on my TBR. I want to read the two novels with WW2 settings :) 8y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I want to read all of those!! 😊 8y
DebinHawaii @erzascarletbookgasm They were both really good & I liked the POVs from the nurses in The Fire By Night & the 3 German women in The Women in the Castle--both unique! 👍📚 8y
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DebinHawaii @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I really enjoyed all of them! If you do audiobooks, Gaiman reading Norse Mythology is awesome! 😀👍 8y
Jayhawk_In_Texas I have Tell the Wolves I'm Home and just bought The Women in the Castle this week. So many books, so little time! If only I didn't have to work... 😜 8y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I agree!!! Having to work interferes with reading!!! Lol 😝 8y
91 likes1 stack add7 comments
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DebinHawaii
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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#LyricalApril #girlinfire OK, I worked it into a mix of a few other Girl on Fire inspired books, so please don't think me morbid or tasteless for including Joan of Arc. I recently bought the book at the thrift shop & tacky or not it was top of mind & I mean it with respect. Also top of mind: Katniss Everdeen, the brave American military nurses of The Fire By Night & this SWF-ish psychological thriller-Fry. (And Ms. Alicia Keys of course...) 📚🔥❤️

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Cinfhen "?Goodness gracious great balls of Fire"? ? your collage is HOT????? 8y
Daisey I'll be with you on the possibly morbid choice, since I went with a book about the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. 8y
DebinHawaii @Cinfhen Great! Yet another song stuck in my head! 😆🔥🎤 @Daisey I'm in good company then! 👍😆 8y
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DebinHawaii
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Pickpick

#LyricalApril #impossible It was impossible to return this book to the library tomorrow without finishing it. What a beautifully told, often brutal story about two American nurses in WWII-one in the remains of a field hospital in France, the other in a Manila POW camp & both in impossible situations trying to survive & keep their patients alive. I read a lot of WWII fiction but rarely from the POV of nurses, so it stands out-impossible to forget.

DebinHawaii If you need a restorative soup to recover from the emotions from the book I recommend today's #soupersundays pick from my blog--a simple garlic & bread soup from a Heidi Swanson recipe. Link to recipe post: http://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/2017/04/restorative-garlic-soup-and-five-othe... #litsycooks 🍲📚 8y
Cinfhen I was just thinking I can't recall reading a WWII novel from a nurses point of view, sounds good and that soup💚 8y
brilliantglow Your posts never fail to make me hungry lol 8y
93 likes10 stack adds3 comments
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DebinHawaii
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Day 1 #AprilBookShowers #AprilTBR Ambitious stack for April & it doesn't include a handful of ebooks & audio books. Some of these are in process-the top 6 are library books that hopefully will get read, the next 4 are #ARCs for blog tour reviews (missing 1 that hasn't arrived yet) & those WILL get read & Behind Her Eyes I'm hoping to get to-but since I'm a moody reader & likely will change my mind-beyond the review books, all bets are off! 😆📚👍

UnabridgedTomes Nice tagine! 8y
Librarylady I've got some of those same books in my stack. Just finished Women in the Castle today. And working on A Simple Favor tonight. 8y
Bette Great stack! ❤📚 8y
112 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Booknerd2
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Pickpick

What a wonderful book!!! There are parts that are hard to read because of the human suffering. Two nurses, one on the western front, one on the eastern front in WWII. They have two purposes: stay alive and keep their patients alive. Neither one has an easy job. I haven't read a book that addresses the horrors the nurses in this war faced until now. ❤️💕❤️💕

JazzFeathers That sounds very good. Stories of war are particularly interesing to me lately, l'm not sure why 8y
Booknerd2 JazzFeathers I have been reading a lot of WWII fiction. Kommandant's Girl is very good. Reading Orphan's Tale right now. 8y
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Lets_Talk_Books
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Pickpick

My latest recommendation to all historical fiction WWII readers out there...Thanks Mike Mason HarperCollins for the ARC. 2 strong female volunteer nurses find themselves in the core of the war. It's raw, honest and guts good!!!

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specklife
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Started this one at about 3:30 AM, when the insomnia made it clear there would be no sleeping here... It's breaking my heart but I'm loving every minute of it. 😢 😭 ❤️

MeggsKY Oooh, this lookes good! Stacked!! 8y
specklife You're so right – I'm halfway through and it's soooo good!! 8y
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WilliamMorrowBooks
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Pickpick

FIRE BY NIGHT is a beautiful and powerful novel about two military nurses working on the front lines of WWII. One woman is in France and the other is in the Philippines, when their worlds come crashing down on them changing everything they know. This is an engrossing novel and you won't be able to put this book down.

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candc320
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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So I have a confession (and I know you guys can relate): I LOVE hearing people talk about books! I've become mildly obsessed with watching the Facebook live videos that publishers like @WilliamMorrow share to tell readers about the new books coming out. And guess what...I won a copy of all of the new books they talked about during their last live post!!! Here are the fiction books I won!! Thank you @WilliamMorrow !!

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KassKho
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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I can't say that books about any war are usually my interests. But make the focus two war nurses and suddenly I'm there ☺️☺️

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WilliamMorrowBooks
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Pickpick

Our Staff Pick Sunday is from Assistant Publicist, Gena!

Debut author Teresa Messineo elegantly and honestly portrays the brutalities faced by combat nurses during WWII in The Fire by Night. Showcasing the strength of two woman stationed in the Pacific and at the front lines this book, and it‘s characters, will stay with you long after you put it down. (On Sale 1/17)

TsahaiMakeda Look at all those wonderful new books behind her. She gets to smell them fresh off the press 😍📚💝 8y
WilliamMorrowBooks @TsahaiMakeda it's one of the best parts of our job! 😊 8y
60 likes9 stack adds2 comments
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lilredhen
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Finshed yesterday. Working on a home made Christmas present for a cousin to recover-she is getting a hand lettered and illustrated book journal :)

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lilredhen
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Cataloguing used books for the web store today when I really want to finish The Fire By Night. Halfway through it and I gotta get to the end!

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lilredhen
The Fire by Night: A Novel | Teresa Messineo
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Got this in the mail yesterday 😍 Starting it tonight!

lilredhen Initial reaction seven pages in: why do I have to wake up so early for work tomorrow?!? I don't wanna put it down! 8y
16 likes1 comment