The fact that this book is co authored by Robert Dugoni sold it to me as I love his books whatever the genre. This one was a new one for me. WW2 from the point of view of American teenage sweethearts who join up to escape the great depression. The boy Sam becomes a POW of the Japanese, and the girl, Sarah, a maths graduate, is recruited by the navy to break codes. Hold Strong tells a harrowing story of bravery and determination in the face of unbelievable horrors and decisions. As I would expect from this author it is told exceptionally well. The historical research is impressive and can be followed up in the impressive bibliography at the end of the book. I have always been vaguely aware of the cruelty of the Japanese soldiers thanks to movies of the era but I wasn't really cognisant of the vast numbers of soldiers and civilians they tortured and killed in such horrific ways. I feel I have learnt a lot from reading this book and recommend it to anyone who would like to expand their own knowledge whilst reading an extremely good story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

What makes a historical fiction book perfect is a combination of meticulous research about a past event which then gets woven into an engaging narration. Hold Strong sheds light on the torture and nightmare experienced by the American POWs captured by the Japanese soldiers in Philippines. POWs were herded by thousands, like sheep, into the hold of a freighter called Arisan Maru with no food, air or water. After a journey of almost a fortnight, the freighter, which joined a bigger convoy, was attacked by an American submarine, resulting in the ship sinking and the POWs being drowned. The three authors have tried to encompass the historical events surrounding that event through the two main protagonists- Sam Carlson and Sarah Weber.

Sam is captured as a POW in Manilla and his experiences in the camps as well in the ill fated ship Arisan Maru, highlights the events that led to the decision by the Americans to sink the Japanese convoy. Sarah's journey as a code-breaker showcases how women also helped to win the war in the background, albeit their contribution was recognized little late. The amount of research that has gone into the book is stupendous and almost every scene in the book is broken down in the reference section and is matched with actual events in history.

I love historical fiction that educates me about an event in history that had hitherto remained unknown to me and at the same time keeps me engrossed in the story. This book has done both commendably and kudos to the authors for their effort. Highly recommended for all historical fiction lovers.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book.

This is a heartbreaking novel about American POWs in the Philippines during WW2. It's raw and powerful. The plot is a love story between one of the POWs and his high school girlfriend, who does her part to help the war effort.

Apparently, more POWs died in Japanese war boats during WW2 than in any major battle, including the Normandy invasion. I found that shocking, and it's a story that needs to be told. The conditions they were held in were gruesome, and sometimes this was hard to read.

Altogether, the story wasn't compelling enough to keep me gripped. The love story wasn't convincing, and the ending was rushed. The most suspenseful part was when a U.S. submarine had to make a fateful decision about blowing up a Japanese ship, and I felt very invested in the outcome. I also enjoyed the camaraderie between our hero, Sam, and his teammates, Pete and Tom, who each added another dimension to the narrative.

Although the atrocities are skillfully told over, I felt there was a certain depth or tension that would otherwise draw me in. I'm happy to see I'm an outlier, though, and most readers are loving this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, Robert Dugoni, Jeff Langholz, and Chris Crabtree for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.

Hold Strong
by Robert Dugoni; Jeff Langholz; Chris Crabtree

Robert Dugoni is always a must read and this story hit all the right marks for me. I'm already a huge fan of WWII historical fiction and thanks to reading it so much and then doing extensive research of the real life events I read about, I was familiar with the subject matters in this story. That just made the story better for me since I recognize either real life people and events or people and events that this story is based upon.

Sam Carlson is the popular, athletic guy at his high school while pretty Sarah Haber is the practical math whiz who will stand up to teachers when she sees the need. The two start dating when they are seventeen, spending time together when Sam works his projectionist job at the move theater. Sam's family is poorer than poor since losing their farm so his dreams of a college education are gone. Sarah has a bright future ahead of her in college and beyond and Sam is scared he's going to lose Sarah when she leaves for college. By enlisting in the National Guard, Sam can make his mom happy that he won't be sent overseas but also earn room, board, and money for college once his three year term is over. But then the National Guard is federalized and Sam is off to war.

Thus begins Sam's march towards the harrowing experience of war in the Philippines. Sam is on the losing side when he and others are ordered to surrender to the Japanese. Already Sam has seen the slaughter of so many men and things are going to get so much worse than he's already seen and experienced. I'd already been well aware of the POW camps, Bataan Death March, prisoners crammed into hell ships, the starvation and brutality the prisoners faced. Sam's side of the story is horrific but there is also the amazing will to live and to help others that we read about among the prisoners. The afterward references people who are the basis of some of these characters and also real life people who lived through the events of this time. The list of reference material is a wealth of knowledge that I'll read in the future.

Sarah excels at her college courses and additional educational opportunities and eventually takes up an offer to work for the government, utilizing her ability to ferret out codes and messages where others can not do so. Both Sam and Sarah never forget the other, although Sarah can't even be sure that Sam is still alive. I've always been interested in Sarah's part of the war effort, where women were on the front lines of getting critical information decoded so it could be used to fight the war wherever that information was needed. Sarah has to face the fact that sometimes the information she decodes can lead to actions that will put POWs in the crosshairs aiming at the Japanese.

The story is a long one and I wouldn't have wanted it to be any shorter. This kind of story is what keeps me coming back to WWII and those who fought at home and overseas to keep us safe at home. Once again, Dugoni, with two coauthors, has a winner.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

Sam Carlson and Sarah Haber are high school sweethearts. After graduation, Sarah heads off to college to be a mathematics teacher while Sam joins the National Guards to earn money to help support his family who lost their farm because of the depression. War breaks out and both Sam and Sarah's lives move on in many different ways. This is a very well researched and well written story about the horrors of World War II which I enjoyed very much, albeit a tough read at times.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC of this very interesting book.

This is one of those books that is going to stick with me for a long time and I highly recommend. The events explored in this historical novel were based on true events from World Word II. Specifically, it focuses on the conditions of a POW camp in the Philippines that were so brutal and horrendous that it is unimaginable how human beings could treat other human beings so horribly. The reader also learns about the Bataan Death March and the horrors surrounding the Arsian Maru, a Japanese freighter that is torpedoed by an American submarine. Despite all the bleakness, the book spotlighted how individuals can be so resilient and willing to survive despite the most unimaginable conditions or their willingness to sacrifice their lives for the greater good.

At the core of this novel is a love story between Sam and Sarah. Sam is from a small town in Minnesota, who decides to sign up to be a soldier in WWII and is captured and becomes a POW. Sarah has extreme talents in mathematics and is sought out to be codebreaker and at one-point intercepts a Japanese message that may impact Sam’s life. Throughout the book, there are numerous examples of individuals making sacrifices to benefit others, a willingness to survive and the ability to remain hopeful when everything else tells you to give up.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

#Netgalley, #HoldStrong, #RobertDugoni, #JeffLangholz, #ChrisCrabtree

“War is hell.” This quote is credited to General William Sherman, who first said, “War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it.” He later shortened it to the famous three-word statement in a speech he gave. Either way, those words perfectly sum up the experiences of Sam Carlson and his comrades in Robert Dugoni’s epic WWII saga, Hold Strong. This non-fiction novel, which was researched and written in collaboration with Jeff Langholz and Chris Crabtree, is based on true events of POWs in the Pacific Theatre.

We first meet Carlson in his fictional hometown of Eagle Grove, Minnesota, which, ironically, is the name of a city in Iowa. Sam develops feelings for Sarah Hader, a girl with a keen mind for mathematics and the gumption to speak her mind. The pair become better acquainted up in the projection booth of the local movie house, where Sam runs the projector. It’s the only place in town with air conditioning, and they can eat free popcorn and share a Coke. After graduation, Sarah is college bound on a scholarship. Sam’s family is barely scraping by, so he enlists in the National Guard. They see one another on weekends, but that changes when the Guard is federalized. Before he knows it, Sam is on his way to the Philippines. Up until this point, I had difficulty engaging in the story. I felt like a spectator; however, the interpersonal interactions, the conflict, and the emotions intensify tremendously, along with the danger as Sam and his platoon face tougher and tougher odds. This becomes a painful experience, but well worth reading.

His unit consists of some unforgettable characters, especially men like Pete Chavez and chaplain Father Thomas Scecina (whom he often calls “Padre”). His girl, Sarah, is never far from his mind, however. He hopes she’s still waiting for him.

The story flips back and forth between Sam’s war-weary life and Sarah’s new challenges. She’s graduated and returned to Eagle Grove to teach. But Uncle Sam has plans for her. Because of her intellectual skills, she’s come to the attention of military intelligence. It was during this time frame that the WAVES were born. Her training and her assignment are top secret.

Meanwhile, Sam is captured, and his family and Sarah are mostly kept in the dark. The descriptions of the treatment he and the other prisoners endure are simply horrific. Dugoni and his co-writers have meticulously researched and documented conditions in the camps and on the “hell ships” to which American and allied prisoners were subjected, and one can’t help feeling a whole spectrum of emotions reading this, realizing that so many of our troops experienced this horror. Thanks to the many brave men and women who served during this time, who served in intelligence, who bravely fought and were injured, captured, imprisoned, and gave their lives.

I received a digital copy of Hold Strong by Robert Dugoni, Jeff Langholz, and Chris Crabtree so that I might share my unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and the authors.

4.5 stars rounded up

Based on true events from WWII, this book portrays some of the horrific events that the prisoners of war were subjected to and their fight to freedom. The main characters, Sam and Sarah, both participate in the war effort, but when Sam is taken prisoner by the Japanese, their future is uncertain. This was so much more than a love story. It is a story of survival, determination, and bravery. This is one of those stories that needs to be told, and the authors did a fabulous job. I highly recommend reading this book to better understand the suffering and hard times of WWII.

I was given an advance reader copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Love this author and the story was very compelling however the execution of the telling of this story fell a little flat for me.

Based on true events this book makes you realise how shocking Japanese POW were treated. Its a harrowing read in parts and perhaps great for my usual relaxing bedtime reading but it is something that people should know about. It truly made me appreciate even more the suffering that millions went through.

At times a hard read but educating and worthwhile.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and authors for allowing me to read an Arc copy.

This book is based on real events during WWII. The book is well researched and the characters are a compilation of multiple individuals experiences. It is not an easy read, it portrays some horrific actions that were taken against captured troops. It is a story of perseverance thru incredible difficulty and the will to survive. I was skeptical about the fact the book is written by 3 authors, but in the end it was well done. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Robert Dugoni, Jeff Langholz, Christian Crabtree, and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Robert Dugoni collaborates with Jeff Langholz and Chris Crabtree to bring readers this wartime thriller. The authors deliver a great account of two young people who are barely out of school, but whose determination and passion to help puts them in equally precarious positions. Sam Carlson and Sarah Haber are a young couple who are tested when war sweeps across the world and America is no longer able to stay neutral. While Sarah is sent to work at cracking codes, Sam finds himself in the Pacific Theatre, where countless events shape him in ways no one could predict. A great piece of writing that showcases many of the great skills all three of these authors possess.

Sam Carlson has worked as a movie projectionist to pass the time and save for his future. He hopes to find his future path while watching many a black and white movie late into the night. When his girlfriend and local math genius, Sarah Haber, has plans to go off to college, Sam hopes to find something that will not only pass the time, but provide for her when they marry. This leads him to answer a request to join the military, in hopes of serving his country while Europe is being torn apart. Writing Sarah while training at various locations across the country, Sam soon finds himself in the middle of the action after the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor.
Sam is soon sent off to the Philippines, where he and those around him hope to battle the Japanese and help the war effort in the Pacific Theatre. This will not only keep him busy, but leaves Sam vulnerable to the sadistic ways of the Japanese. All the while, Sarah’s math abilities are noticed by some secret groups within the US government and she finds herself trying to crack the various codes used by the Japanese. Cryptologist by day, worried girlfriend by night, Sarah can only hope that Sam will return to her soon and in one piece.
After the Japanese capture Sam and many other Americans, brutalizing them and leaving them for dead, the stage is set for utter despair. As a POW, Sam can barely survive each day, but is determined to make it, if only to ensure he sees Sarah once again. Emaciated and broken, Sam soon finds himself on a boat with 1800 POWs, many of whom will not make it more than a day or two. His only hope is to focus on the future. While Sarah cracks codes and tries to ensure the Japanese will not pull the wool over the eyes of the Americans, she finds herself in the middle of a romantic triangle that could easily destroy the small-town plans that she and Sam made all those years ago. The authors deliver a chilling tale that pulls on real events, sure to impress the attentive reader.
I have long enjoyed the work of Robert Dugoni, both his legal thrillers and those of a more personal nature. This collaborative work alongside Jeff Langholz and Chris Crabtree adds a deeper connection to the story and impacts the reading experience greatly. The narrative flows well and provides an easy to comprehend story, though there are definite moments of despair and anguish that must be synthesised. The characters provide great flavour to the piece, no matter where they are from and hemp to add a needed depth to provide more impact for the reader. Plot twists are constant, set against the backdrop of historical happenings, which serves to provide the reader with some learning moments and keeps things edgy. Dugoni chose well with his collaborators, as they help develop a strong foundation on which the story can rest!

Kudos, Messrs. Dugoni, Langholz, and Crabtree, for this impactful novel!

After the attack at Pearl Harbor, the Japanese immediately attacked the bases in the Pacific and in the Philippines. The bases were quickly overtaken because the military lacked shells and bullets. The entire contingent of men was forced to march nearly 3,000 miles in extremely hot and humid weather.

This story chronicles the terrible conditions they faced both during the “Battan Death March,” and the trip aboard the Arisan Maru. Eight thousand troops were forced into the ships’ hold with no place to sit or lay down. No fresh air was piped into the hold and many died of starvation or thirst.
This novel highlights the plight of these 8,000 troops and the brutality that was inflicted by their Japanese captors. The average walk per day was around 30 miles.

This novel would be enjoyed by anyone who appreciates historical biographical fiction or biographical fiction of WWII. The descriptions bringing the scene to life are all too real. It’s crushing. Look for the release of this one in late January or pre-order now to enjoy massive savings. 5 stars – CE Williams

What an incredibly detailed and thoroughly researched based and true accounts of the Japanese attack on the Philippines and the capture of U.S. soldiers held as POW’s. The authors created fictional characters to give a more well rounded account of what these people experienced during this war. We hear about the European side of WW2 more than we read about the Japanese invasion and subsequent conflicts. What an eye opening story that I knew nothing about There is almost 75 pages of cited information to verify the aspects of the story based on actual events. This is a must read for anybody interested in history and specifically the survivors of this part of the war.

This differs from Robert Dugoni’s repertoire but equally enjoyable and meaningful.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: World War II, Pacific Theater, and a small town in Minnesota
Characters: Sam Carlson and Sarah Haber, in love and wanting to start a life together, but the impact of World War II forever changes their destiny in completely different ways. The cast of supporting GIs and military officials is broad, varied, and well-developed.
Overview: Sam determines it is his patriotic duty to enlist in the army and joins a tank battalion stationed in the Pacific, but is captured and becomes part of the Bataan Death March, eventually winding up on a POW hell ship. Sarah wants to do her part in the war while she waits and prays for Sam’s return so her excellent mathematical skills take her from being a school teacher to rising through the ranks as a top-rated cryptographer. The intersection of Sarah breaking the Japanese code and the whereabouts and question of Sam’s escape make the story fascinating and suspenseful.
Recommendation: I rate this book 4.5 stars
Extras: The book is an exercise in contrasts, while the love affair part of the story is straightforward and lightweight, the war episodes are definitely heavyweight and not for everyone since the scenes of POW's conditions and torture are difficult. Based primarily on a true set of circumstances, there is a lot to be learned and contemplated.
Thanx to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to provide this candid review.

The reviews were great on this book but it felt too heavy for me. I think others might like this true story.

Wonderful blend of a compelling plot, believable characters, good writing, and well-researched history!
Hold Strong tells the story of Sam Carlson, an ordinary guy who is sent to fight in the Philippines during WWII, captured by the Japanese, and subjected to horrific conditions and personally directed cruelty. Meanwhile, his math-whiz sweetheart, Sarah Haber, is recruited to serve as a codebreaker for the US, and her efforts could have a very personal effect on Sam. The book nicely portrays a real ethical problem Sarah faces while engaged in her cryptanalytic efforts and made me think about what it would be like to be in her situation. Sam and Sarah both definitely had to “hold strong”.
Sam and Sarah are very believable, sympathetic characters, and I found myself very immersed in their experiences. Sam’s treatment as a POW was so harsh that I might not have finished the book if it were not so compelling. Sarah did not suffer the physical distress that Sam did, but her mental anguish as she worked to save both her country and the man she loved was very believable. I could imagine myself being in the shoes of the women cryptanalysts doing their part for the war effort. Other characters are also nicely drawn, such as Father Tom, a cleric who is Sam’s fellow POW and strives to help his compatriots find some serenity despite the conditions of their imprisonment.
The book description says the book is “anchored in an extraordinary true story”, but I did not realize until I read the Afterword and looked through the notes just how thorough the research was and how closely the story follows history. The treatment of the POWs that I found so distressing was not, unfortunately, fiction, such as the telegram from the Japanese Minister of Defense instructing the POW camps to execute all POWS if Allied troops were approaching and might liberate the POWs to rejoin the fighting. I do NOT recommend that you read the Afterword until you finish the story to avoid spoilers. There was little or no mention, though, even in the Notes, of the technical problems Sarah encountered while trying to decrypt the Japanese messages, a mild disappointment to me.
I have enjoyed books by Robert Dugoni in the Tracy Crosswhite and Keera Duggan series, so I thought I would find a good read in Hold Strong, and I did, but this book is rather different from those series, so do not expect a thriller. DO expect an equally engrossing portrayal of the effects of war on ordinary people.
I received and advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.

I thought going into this book that I would have a little bit of trouble with it with the content and being written by three different authors, that was not the case at all! This book is based on real life events from World War II
Robert Dugoni is not a new author to me. I happen to have loved his previous two books, I’m still new to him, so I’m getting through all his works, the other two authors were new to me, but this book was about love, and heroism and I truly enjoyed it.

*Hold Strong* is a gripping WWII historical fiction that blends real events with a compelling story. It follows Sam Carlson, a soldier captured in the Philippines, and his fiancée Sarah, who becomes a codebreaker to help with the war effort. The book is well-researched, heart-wrenching, and shows the strength of the human spirit in the face of extreme hardship.

As with other Robert Dugoni books, this one is extraordinary. The collaboration with Langholz and Crabtree has produced an exciting, extremely well- researched historical fiction WWII book. There are lots of wonderful WWII stories but this is a refreshing change with some unique settings and perspectives. It is very much a love story but is also a beautiful tale of perseverance and maintaining focus on what is important in order to survive.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.