Hold Strong

A Novel

De: Robert Dugoni, Jeff Langholz, Chris Crabtree

Narrado por: Will Damron

From Robert Dugoni, Jeff Langholz, and Chris Crabtree comes an epic and inspiring novel—based on true events—about love, heroism, and resilience during the darkest chapters of World War II.

Sam Carlson is a projectionist in small-town Minnesota, where fantasies unspool in glorious black and white—for him and for his sweetheart, college-bound math whiz Sarah Haber. When the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, Sam is sent to the Philippines and captured as a POW. Brutalized but unbroken by the Bataan Death March and POW camps, Sam is one of eighteen hundred starved and weakened prisoners herded into the cargo hold of a barbaric hell ship called the Arisan Maru, his survival doubtful.

Determined to use her math skills on the home front, Sarah is recruited to Washington, DC, into the covert field of code breaking. When Sarah intercepts a message about a Japanese convoy, the US Navy’s mission is clear: sink the Arisan Maru and send it to the bottom of the South China Sea. Now, the lives of the two young lovers are about to inadvertently collide in one of the most shocking acts of World War II.

Anchored in an extraordinary true story and breathlessly re-created, Hold Strong is a one-of-a-kind novel that explores faith, courage, survival, and coming home against insurmountable odds.

©2025 La Mesa Fiction, LLC, Jeff A. Langholz, and Chris Adam Crabtree. (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“This book is hard to put down.”—Historical Novels Review

“Though these gruesome aspects of war aren’t often easy to portray in novels and historical fiction, Hold Strong, by the trio of researchers and writers Robert Dugoni, Jeff Langholz, and Chris Crabtree, has achieved the unachievable. It does so with their cast of strong characters backed by their meticulous research.”—The Epoch Times

“Something straight out of a Tom Clancy novel, with submarines and secret codes and war-altering decisions made at heavy cost. It’s thrilling stuff, made all the more so by its grounding in history.”—Rob Merrill, Associated Press

Moving and Compeeling Story

Excellent book and performance. Robert Dugoni knows how to tell a story and this one is excellent. Dugoni tells the compelling story of POWs in the Pacific, their horrific treatment, and the sacrifices they gave for our freedom. The story also tells of women who serve our country during WW II - a story rarely told but so important.
The audible performance is excellent.

Historically Grounded, Amazing Book

WOW! An incredible story, beautifully told. While it is Historical Fiction, it is grounded in historical accuracy. Highly recommend!

moved quickly but engaging

well written and well paced story of love war and tragedy mired in World War 2. this book can trigger strong emotions and if inclined to traumatic PTSD could be a trigger but really well written

I didn’t realize!

I’ve listened to so many stories of this war from the European perspective but this is the first from the pacific side of the war. Very eye opening. I enjoyed learning more about this part of the war.

Reality of war

Honest view provided of the challenges encountered in war and how those challenges are met.

Riveting reality

This story is told simply, without unnecessary dramatics, which makes it all the more compelling.

Eye-opening

Well written! Highly recommend! The narrator did a great job portraying the characters. You won’t regret this choice.

Great Historical Book

I was riveted by this book. I enjoy historical fiction, but this really is one of my new favorites.

Another Phenomenal Read

Once again I had a hard time putting down this book. As you are transported into the story, you cannot help but evaluate your own life and think about your past, present, and future choices.

Excellent fact based fiction

This story was intriguing from the beginning. I really enjoyed listening to the end and discovering that many of the characters and situations were indeed research and fact based as close to actual events as possible.

The characters, and their stories were fascinating and draw you in. Highly recommend.