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Ann Bennett
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The Lotus House: A gripping, emotional drama of love and courage set in the Philippines during WW2. (Echoes of Empire: A collection of standalone novels set in the Far East during WWII) Kindle Edition

by Ann Bennett (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 1,099 ratings

A gripping, emotional drama of love and courage set in the Philippines during WW2.


1960: Nancy Drayton, an American nurse living on Lake Sebu, is visited by a stranger who hands her some faded letters, given to her by a dying man. Reading them transports Nancy back to the terror of the war years.

1941: When Nancy’s world is blown apart by the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, she volunteers to travel to the Philippines to serve at the front. She soon finds herself working in a field hospital on the Bataan Peninsula in the thick of the fighting, experiencing the horrors of war first hand.

When tending to some wounded men, she meets Captain Robert Lambert, and they become close. But the Japanese are closing in on Bataan, and when the US surrenders, they are driven apart.

As Robert struggles to survive the horrors of the Bataan Death March and the brutality of captivity in a prison camp, Nancy too finds herself a captive, fighting for her life. Will they survive to find one another again or will the forces of war keep them apart?

If you enjoy compelling historical fiction, you’ll love this sweeping story of love and war. Perfect for fans of Kristen Hannah, Dinah Jeffries and Victoria Hislop.

What everyone is saying about Ann Bennett:

‘What an amazing read!!! I didn't expect this to be a roller coaster of emotions, suspense, and mystery but it was everything!!… The characters were amazing, the story will keep you wanting more and more until the end.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘So captivating, I was on edge while flipping through the pages as fast as I could… Truly heartwarming… Emotional, heartbreaking … I loved this… A must read… Amazing.’ Page Turners, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DJL4YH3N
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Andaman Press; 1st edition (October 9, 2024)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 9, 2024
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.0 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1738430332
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 1,099 ratings

About the author

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Ann Bennett

Ann Bennett

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Ann Bennett is a British author of historical fiction. Her first book, Bamboo Heart: A Daughter's Quest, was inspired by researching her father's experience as a prisoner of war on the Thai-Burma Railway and by her own journey to uncover his story. It won the Asian Books Blog prize for fiction published in Asia in 2015, and was shortlisted for the best fiction title in the Singapore Book Awards 2016.

That initial inspiration led her to write more books about WWII in Southeast Asia - Bamboo Island: The Planter's Wife, A Daughter's Promise, Bamboo Road: The Homecoming, The Tea Planter's Club, The Amulet, and The Fortune Teller of Kathmandu. Along with The Lotus House, published in October 2024, they make up the Echoes of Empire Collection.

Ann is also the author of The Oriental Lake Collection - The Lake Pavilion and The Lake Palace, both set in British India during the 1930s and WWII, and The Lake Pagoda and The Lake Villa, set in French Indochina.

The Runaway Sisters, USA Today bestselling The Orphan House, The Child Without a Home and The Forgotten Children are set in Europe during the same era and are published by Bookouture. Her latest book, The Stolen Sisters, published on 29th November 2024 is the follow-up to The Orphan List (published by Bookouture in August this year) and is set in Poland and Germany during WWII.

A former lawyer, Ann is married with three grown up sons and a granddaughter and lives in Surrey, UK. For more details, please visit her website www.annbennettauthor

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
1,099 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's story engaging, with one describing it as a touching wartime love story. The book keeps readers glued to each page, and one customer notes its excellent research.

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7 customers mention "Story quality"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, with one customer describing it as a touching wartime love story.

"...I always appreciate how Bennett crafts a great story and teach me some history along the way." Read more

"Excellent researched book with great storyline." Read more

"Amazing story which included the bombing at Pearl Harbour. Looking at the lives of nurses and doctors in the field hospital during wartime...." Read more

"A very moving novel -" Read more

4 customers mention "Enthralling read"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enthralling, with multiple reviews mentioning they were glued to each page.

"I loved this book! I read a lot of books about WWII but I was not very familiar with what took place in the Philippines during that time...." Read more

"I've read all her books. They hold my interest completely. You feel like your living with the characters...." Read more

"Good read exciting and informative Never realized how important this part of ww2 was Thank all the people that served to keep us free" Read more

"The Lotus House: Enthralling from the first page to the end..." Read more

3 customers mention "Value for money"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book offers good value for money, with one customer noting its excellent research and another mentioning its special personal significance.

"...This book held special meaning for me as my late father-in-law served in the Philippines during WW2...." Read more

"Excellent researched book with great storyline." Read more

"Good read exciting and informative Never realized how important this part of ww2 was Thank all the people that served to keep us free" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • PMW1
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Lotus House: Enthralling from the first page to the end
    Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Once again Ann Bennett has written a book I could not put down once I started reading it. I felt like I was right there with Nancy as she travelled from country to country, experiencing all the emotions of anticipation, fear, sadness and joy. This book held special meaning for me as my late father-in-law served in the Philippines during WW2. I know he witnessed some horrible things, but he shared very little of it with us.

    I always appreciate how Bennett crafts a great story and teach me some history along the way.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Maryanne Rodriguez
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful story that kept me glued
    Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this book! I read a lot of books about WWII but I was not very familiar with what took place in the Philippines during that time. This book truly kept me glued to each page.
    I look forward to reading more from Ann Bennett.
    Helpful
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  • Susan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good Read
    Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent researched book with great storyline.
    Helpful
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  • Joan
    5.0 out of 5 stars A story of horrible times and of found love in WWII
    Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I've read all her books. They hold my interest completely. You feel like your living with the characters. I was entranced with the war in the Philippines
    Helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Lotus House
    Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Amazing story which included the bombing at Pearl Harbour. Looking at the lives of nurses and doctors in the field hospital during wartime. The history of the Japanese invasion & cruelty in Manila & Pacific areas. This together with the touching wartime love story. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
    Helpful
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  • Teresa
    5.0 out of 5 stars great
    Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Good read exciting and informative

    Never realized how important this part of ww2 was Thank all the people that served to keep us free
    Helpful
     Report
  • Jana Mitchell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect love story.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    In a time of war sadness, brutality and survival. Nurses care for the critical and try to enjoy the Ocean and sunsets. A love develops and survives through hardships.
    Helpful
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  • Diana Klein
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Lotus House
    Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A very moving novel -
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Mishka
    5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely a book that must be read!
    Reviewed in Australia on February 6, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Right from the start I was captivated and kept reading until I finished the book. The story line was excellent and very moving and I could identify with each character as they felt so real. There were many moments of great sadness but also a good outcome at the end. I loved this story and highly recommend it.
    Report
  • Cecilia
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 26, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Ann Bennet is an amazing writer. She researches her books well at the same time weaves a beautiful love story around the subject. This is a painful one which takes place during the dreadful war fought against a very cruel enemy in the Philippines during WW2. My father and uncle also fought the Japanese but found it difficult to talk about the atrocities they saw and experienced against this formidable enemy. Thankfully, unlike Ann Bennet's father, they were not captured so never experienced the prisoner of war camps. Amongst all the horror she's painted a picture of the great love between two people. Beautifully written.
    Report
  • ramendra singh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Emotionally engrossing
    Reviewed in India on December 4, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A story of grit, valour and determination. Very well penned amidst the background of WW2. A love story flowers silently among uncertainties of war to succeed at the end.
    Report
  • Dodie
    4.0 out of 5 stars WW11 in The Philippines. US Army nurses and forces.
    Reviewed in Australia on November 19, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I have read many Ann Bennett books set in S.E. Asia./ This is the first one set in The Philippines. I knew very little about WW11 in the area except for the quote from General Macarthur that "he would return". I did not understand why he left in the first place. Ms. Bennett paints a graphic picture of how the war progressed with Japanese army forces overcoming the Americans. The torture in the POW camps has been well documented and written about in many books. Ms. Bennett tells the story again, using the love story between a nurse and an officer. They are both taken prisoner. I found the love story ending a bit predictable but enjoyed the book anyway. Is enjoy the right word for a story about war and torture? No, but it was unputdownable.
    Report
  • wendy davis
    4.0 out of 5 stars good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 6, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    good read and well written
    Report

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