Published: October 3, 2018
This isn’t a novel that I would have ever picked up under normal circumstances. I was asked if I would like to review this audiobook and having never read anything by Jane Lewis before I figured I would give it a shot. So I’ll say out right that the narration was well done. Dawson McBride did this narration as well and though his voice is more well suited to westerns or 19th century historical romances, he made the 1930s work. That being said this book was not my cup of tea. I’d give it three stars really. It was a very slow burn. And for the audio book only being 5-ish hours long that’s saying a lot.
Frankie has been duped by the woman he thought he was going to grow old with. After the fiasco with her he has decided that women weren’t worth the effort and the only love he needed in his life was his airplanes. As a former Barnstormer, he felt most at home in a plane and thanks to his close friendship with his boss he got to fly as much as he wanted. Only his bosses little sister continues to be a thorn in his side. He knows that he has been in love with Ruth Ann for a long time but they can’t be in the same room as each other without ripping each other apart. He only gets one chance to try and be with her so naturally he grabs that with both hands.
Ruth Ann is in school in Atlanta to be an actress. While there she gets a steady beau but she doesn’t feel for him like she does for Frankie. His kisses are different and he keeps pushing her when she isn’t ready. So while at home for Christmas break so decided to pursue Frankie. She knows they have fought a lot in the past but it was because she was hiding her feelings from him. Can she convince him of that?
This was a sweet enemies to lovers story. It was basically like elementary school where if the boy is picking on you that means he likes you. I think the characters could have been more robust and even though it was the ’30s the fun scenes could have been more. Or at least the sexual tension could have been felt more. It took a lot for me to finish this novel because I found it a bit dry. But if this type of historical fiction is your thing then go for it. You might enjoy it way more than I did.
—Barnstormer: someone who pilots an airplane in sightseeing flights with passengers or in exhibition stunts in an unscheduled course especially in rural districts. –Merriam-Webster online—
bookishlyromantic.com 