Book Review of 'Listen for the Chickadees' by Terri Wangard

Happy Thursday Bookworms!

My love of historical fiction draws me almost daily, and lately I've been all over the eras, but one place I haven't visited in a bit was WWII, so I picked up a novel by another author that is new to me and dove right in.

I hope you enjoy my thoughts on this Christian Historical Fiction and let me know in the comments if you have any recommendations in this genre for me. I'm always on the hunt for my next read.♥

Welcome to the Reviewer Tour for Listen for the Chickadees by Terri Wangard, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Listen for the Chickadees
Series: Unsung Stories of World War II #3
Author: Terri Wangard
Publisher: Scrivenings Press LLC
Release Date: March 10, 2026
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

She’s loved him forever.
He’s never seen her as more than a memory from home.
Then Pearl Harbor changed everything.

December 7, 1941, shattered the illusion that anyone is safe.

Navy nurse Gloria Bloch wakes to the thunder of enemy planes over Pearl Harbor, certain of only one thing: John Walsh, the boy she has loved since childhood, is far from danger aboard an aircraft carrier. Or so she believes.

When panicked American gunfire brings John down over the harbor, their reunion is brief and breathtaking, forged in chaos neither can escape.

As the Second World War drives the United States into the Pacific conflict, Gloria and John are swept onto separate paths of duty. Gloria serves aboard the hospital ship USS Serenity, tending shattered bodies and wounded souls. John flies combat missions as a Navy fighter pilot and combat photographer, risking everything to document a war that refuses to leave him untouched.

Their paths cross again and again in fleeting moments between air raids and surgeries, courage and fear, longing and loss. With every meeting, the feelings they have buried deepen. But war demands more than love. It demands sacrifice, tests faith, and steals time without warning.

When separation stretches into silence, Gloria must face the terrifying possibility that hope itself has become another casualty of war.

As war and distance threaten to pull them apart, only the smallest signs remain: a whistle, a painted bird, and a promise worth holding onto.

Listen for the Chickadees is a Christian World War II historical romance set against the backdrop of Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Navy, and the Pacific War. It is a story of steadfast love, quiet faith, and the courage it takes to trust God when tomorrow is uncertain.

Perfect for readers who enjoy WWII historical fiction, Christian wartime love stories, and emotionally rich fiction set in America and the Pacific theater.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

My Review

Another unique installment of the Unsung Stories of World War II, Listen to the Chickadees gives a glimpse of another aspect of one of the most impactful wars in history. Despite doing quite a bit of WWII research, I haven't read too much about Pearl Harbor, particularly in the historical fiction department. I cannot begin to imagine how horrifying it must've been. Even though the depictions of injuries are not overtly dramatic, they are still spine-chilling nonetheless. I hate war, and reading about all of those that were injured truly hurt my heart.

There wasn’t one scene that really stuck out to me, but I am grateful that the author didn’t shy away from documenting the horrors of wartime with injuries and servicemen that had to deal with so much. It truly is too horrific to imagine. As far as romances go, this is a sweet story, and I could feel the author’s passion and intention for the characters and message as a whole but I would’ve liked a bit more urgency and maybe a tad more spice, but for a sweet romance, it did hit all the right notes.

This is the first novel that I’ve read by this author and it will not be my last. I’d love to go back into the series and read more as these stories seem to come from unique perspectives that aren’t often explored and I enjoy that so much.

My Rating: ★★★★

Other Books in the Series

About the Author

Terri Wangard’s first Girl Scout badge was the Writer. These days she is writing historical fiction, and won the 2013 Writers on the Storm contest and 2013 First Impressions of the American Christian Fiction Writers, as well as being a 2012 Genesis finalist. Holder of a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in library science, she lives in Wisconsin. Her research included going for a ride in a WWII B-17 Flying Fortress bomber.

Connect with Terri by visiting terriwangard.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.