Scan barcode
rainyrachel2024's review against another edition
5.0
Easily a 5 star book!! So so good. Always been a fan of aviation and woman pilots so a great read
cathy61r's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
memull17's review against another edition
4.25
Anyone else fascinated with Amelia Earhart and her disappearance? If so, then this book is for you! This isn’t a biography about her life but it is the creation of the author’s fascination with her and lead to this creation of an adventurous tale.
There are two female MCs in this book. The first is photojournalist Janey Everett on the quest to find answers about forgotten aviation pioneer Sam Mallory in hopes of writing a biography. The other is Irene Lindquist, the owner of a local island-hopping airline and hopeful missing piece to Janey’s quest for answers because she believes she is known other than Irene Foster the Aviatrix and Sam’s old flying partner. Told in dual timelines, a lot is revealed about both FMCs and what they had to endure in order to preserve and live the lives they had now.
There are two female MCs in this book. The first is photojournalist Janey Everett on the quest to find answers about forgotten aviation pioneer Sam Mallory in hopes of writing a biography. The other is Irene Lindquist, the owner of a local island-hopping airline and hopeful missing piece to Janey’s quest for answers because she believes she is known other than Irene Foster the Aviatrix and Sam’s old flying partner. Told in dual timelines, a lot is revealed about both FMCs and what they had to endure in order to preserve and live the lives they had now.
shelleydavis's review against another edition
5.0
I won this book as a publisher giveaway and was extremely ecstatic because I’m such a fan of Beatriz Williams. This book sucks you in from the beginning as you travel between the late 1920s- early 1930s to the late 1940s post WW II. I am typically not a fan of dual timelines but in this case it definitely works for the story line as we follow Janey’s story and Irene’s story. The author is very descriptive so it feels like you are right there on the beaches of Hawaii or the airfields of California - sometimes though it does get to be a little bit too much and you kind of want her to get to the point. The plot twists! I definitely was caught off guard and actually found my self gasp at the book
ablondebooknerd's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
cindy_f's review
5.0
Loved this story of passionate love and the passion for flying. This historical fiction is told by Janey Everett, a war photojournalist who is obsessed with the mystery surrounding the life and death of Sam Mallory and the disappearance of his presumed lover Irene Foster, both legendary aviators. Janey finds Irene in Hanalei, HI with the intention of writing a Biography of Sam. The story takes us to past and present and many discoveries unfold during this working relationship between Janey and Irene. This story is about love, betrayal, loss, and told very well. This is only the second book by Beatriz Williams that I’ve read, but will surely seek out her other books.
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Book on CD performed by Cassandra Campbell
3.5***
Adapted from the book jacket: In 1947, photojournalist Janey Everett arrives at a surfing village on Kauai, Hawaii to research a planned biography of aviation pioneer Sam Mallory, who never returned from the Spanish Civil War. Janey has tracked down Irene Lindquist, owner of a local island-hopping airline, whom she believes might actually be the legendary Irene Foster, Mallory’s onetime student and flying partner. Foster’s disappearance during a round-the-world flight in 1937 remains one of the world’s great unsolved mysteries.
My reactions:
For some reason I thought this book was going to actually be a fictionalized story of Amelia Earhart. (Obviously, I never read the book jacket or reviews before opening the book.) Well, it isn’t that, but Earhart’s own story (and disappearance) certainly influence this novel.
Once again, the author uses the now typical dual timeline for this work of historical fiction. Of course, both timelines are historical: 1947 and 1937. As Janey wiggles her way into Lindquist’s world and tries to earn her trust, Irene reflects on her own memories of meeting Sam Mallory, flying with him, and both their disappearances. As the stories unfold, the reader comes to learn more about both these women: their hopes, dreams, joys and sorrows.
There are more than a few surprises in store – for Janey, and for the reader.
Although I’ve come to dislike the dual timeline so popular in historical fiction, Williams handles it very well in this case. And it did serve to heighten interest and intrigue. I couldn’t help but try to fit the puzzle together, but I was as surprised as Janey to learn the full truth of the story.
Cassandra Campbell has become one of my favorite audiobook narrators. She does a stellar job of performing the audio version.
3.5***
Adapted from the book jacket: In 1947, photojournalist Janey Everett arrives at a surfing village on Kauai, Hawaii to research a planned biography of aviation pioneer Sam Mallory, who never returned from the Spanish Civil War. Janey has tracked down Irene Lindquist, owner of a local island-hopping airline, whom she believes might actually be the legendary Irene Foster, Mallory’s onetime student and flying partner. Foster’s disappearance during a round-the-world flight in 1937 remains one of the world’s great unsolved mysteries.
My reactions:
For some reason I thought this book was going to actually be a fictionalized story of Amelia Earhart. (Obviously, I never read the book jacket or reviews before opening the book.) Well, it isn’t that, but Earhart’s own story (and disappearance) certainly influence this novel.
Once again, the author uses the now typical dual timeline for this work of historical fiction. Of course, both timelines are historical: 1947 and 1937. As Janey wiggles her way into Lindquist’s world and tries to earn her trust, Irene reflects on her own memories of meeting Sam Mallory, flying with him, and both their disappearances. As the stories unfold, the reader comes to learn more about both these women: their hopes, dreams, joys and sorrows.
There are more than a few surprises in store – for Janey, and for the reader.
Although I’ve come to dislike the dual timeline so popular in historical fiction, Williams handles it very well in this case. And it did serve to heighten interest and intrigue. I couldn’t help but try to fit the puzzle together, but I was as surprised as Janey to learn the full truth of the story.
Cassandra Campbell has become one of my favorite audiobook narrators. She does a stellar job of performing the audio version.
lamom77's review against another edition
3.0
I have always really enjoyed Beatriz Williams's books, but this one sat on my TBR for a few years. I guess maybe my subconscious somehow knew I wouldn't love it. It started strong and the idea was great, but it was fairly predictable, there were a few mistakes in the writing, and I got bored in the middle. The ending was fine.
mg_in_md_'s review against another edition
4.0
Alternating between scenes set in 1947and excerpts from a biography, this historical fiction novel follows a female photojournalist's hunt for the truth about a renowned, but forgotten, aviation pioneer, Sam Mallory. Janey, the photojournalist, finds herself in a remote surfing village in Kauai trying to extract details about Mallory's life and fatal final flight from Irene Lindquist, a woman Janey believes is actually the legendary Irene Foster, Mallory's one-time student and flying partner. The story is set primarily in Hawaii but also takes the reader to locations such as California, Australia, and Spain during that country's Civil War. The locations drew me into the story and I felt transported to a different time and place due to the historical details that brought these worlds to life. Both women are strong and have pushed the boundaries, but have also put up walls around their true selves despite their apparent fearlessness. I found this to be a page-turner and I kept wanting to learn more about each intriguing woman. While I did deduce certain plot points before they were ultimately revealed, I enjoyed the story and how it unfolded. This was the first book I've read by this author and it certainly won't be my last. I found this novel to be just the right bit of escapism I needed. This review was based on the Advanced Reader Edition I received via NetGalley. Many thanks to William Morrow and Book Club Girl for this early read!