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Fly Away, Love
Alathea nourished a long-standing grudge against Captain Simon Dexter. She wasn't at all pleased at the prospect of being on his flight crew—especially as he proceeded to find fault with everything she did. So it came as quite a shock when she realized that in spite of all the antagonism she had managed to fall in love with him....
- GenresHarlequin Romance
188 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
21 people want to read
About the author
Betty Beaty
24 books6 followersAs an author for Harlequin Romance, Betty Beaty published nine romance novels. She was also known as Catherine Ross, Betty Smith and Karen Campbell.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 7, 2016
I was in the mood for an "airport romance" so I picked this book up. Basically, it's about heroine, Alathea, who's a stewardess, who has been avoiding flights with the hero, Captain Simon Dexter, because she doesn't like him--she mistakenly thinks he hurt her sister, Lois, in the past (that he dumped Lois after dating her and moved away/left town.)
I enjoyed the airline plot but there wasn't much romance. Throughout the first half of the book the heroine seemed to be with Paul, a guy she was pretending to be engaged to, more than the hero, Simon. I was starting to wonder if Paul was the hero. The second half of the book improved a little. I liked the part when Alathea had to deal with the old lady on the plane who smuggled her cat on board.
This book was written in the first person POV (point of view). It was an OK read.
I enjoyed the airline plot but there wasn't much romance. Throughout the first half of the book the heroine seemed to be with Paul, a guy she was pretending to be engaged to, more than the hero, Simon. I was starting to wonder if Paul was the hero. The second half of the book improved a little. I liked the part when Alathea had to deal with the old lady on the plane who smuggled her cat on board.
This book was written in the first person POV (point of view). It was an OK read.
June 25, 2024
DNF on page 115 out of 188.
It was just so boring :(
Plus, I was oddly put off by the first person narrative as I am so used to third person in Harlequins.
I was interested in the vintage setting. The story is chock full of details about the Golden Age of passenger air travel. The bit about thestewardesses flight attendants taking babies to a rest area on the airplane to feed them a bottle so that their exhausted mothers could have a rest was hilarious. Can you imagine that happening today???
However, those interesting historical details were not enough for me to sustain interest in wooden characters engaged in the slowest of slow burning romances.
It was just so boring :(
Plus, I was oddly put off by the first person narrative as I am so used to third person in Harlequins.
I was interested in the vintage setting. The story is chock full of details about the Golden Age of passenger air travel. The bit about the
However, those interesting historical details were not enough for me to sustain interest in wooden characters engaged in the slowest of slow burning romances.
December 7, 2025
Dexter and Alathea spent so little time together, in fact, her romance with Paul was more developed.
June 21, 2020
This is the 2nd book I read by this author. I'm glad I gave her a second chance since this is much better than the first book I read. It has that old world feel of the vintage harlequins.
The heroine Alathea is a stewardess and so far she has avoided being assigned to the flights of the Hero, Simon, one of the senior Captains at the same airline. Alathea knew Simon when she was younger, he was the boyfriend of her older sister and she resents him because he broke her sister's heart and went away.
However, eventually she is put on a flight with him and another Pilot, Paul who is her casual date. Simon is also known as a hard taskmaster, so everyone assumes Alathea's reticence comes from this. In fact, on this flight, Simon is actually rating Paul, the other Pilot so everyone is on their toes. Once they land, and as Paul has passed with flying colors, he is ecstatic and gives Alathea a kiss. They are immediately caught by Simon and reprimanded for conduct unbecoming since they are in their uniforms. To save himself, Paul apologizes and says it was because Alathea agreed to be his wife. Alathea, not wanting to throw him under the bus, keeps quiet. So the rumor mill spreads and everyone is suddenly congratulating them.
Her flatmates give a party and all assume it is an engagement party. Alathea blames Simon, since he seems to be the one egging them on, looking for a ring on her finger and asking when Paul intends to introduce her to his family. Simon even arranges it so Alathea and Paul can fly to Canada together and meet his family. Since they cannot really meet Paul's parents as its a 'fake' engagement, they simply check into a resort, but Simon catches them again and reprimands Alathea. After this, Alathea, fed up breaks up for good with Paul. People are sympathetic and though it was a 'fake' engagement she feels sad. One time, she breaks down in front of Simon so he thinks she really is heartbroken.
Alathea really wants to visit her now married sister, who lives on a Caribbean island, but she has not yet been assigned to that route. On another flight, Alathea unwittingly helps an old lady who has smuggled her cat on board. As senior officer, Simon has to take her to task yet again. Not only is she grounded, she has to serve as a waitress in the Cabin crew restaurant. At the end of her punishment, she is happy to see she has been assigned to the Caribbean route where her sister lives. This gives her a chance to visit her sister. Her sister clears up the misconception that she has been in love with Simon. She clarified that he was the one to convince her to broaden her horizons, which was why she left to go to London.
A few more weeks pass where Alathea realizes that it is Simon whom she loves, but she thinks he is in love with another stewardess, her flatmate. Then Alathea gets to fly to Panama with Simon and as they take off on an empty plane they get word that a rebellion has broken out in the Caribbean island where her sister is. Simon manages to land the plane on the island and pick up all the expats who are being evacuated. On the flight he renews his friendship with Alathea's sister.
When they land, in one of the offices of the airlines, they confess their love for each other and it ends abruptly. Oh well such is the case of these vintage Harleys... I guess it was the fade to black style of those days.
The heroine Alathea is a stewardess and so far she has avoided being assigned to the flights of the Hero, Simon, one of the senior Captains at the same airline. Alathea knew Simon when she was younger, he was the boyfriend of her older sister and she resents him because he broke her sister's heart and went away.
However, eventually she is put on a flight with him and another Pilot, Paul who is her casual date. Simon is also known as a hard taskmaster, so everyone assumes Alathea's reticence comes from this. In fact, on this flight, Simon is actually rating Paul, the other Pilot so everyone is on their toes. Once they land, and as Paul has passed with flying colors, he is ecstatic and gives Alathea a kiss. They are immediately caught by Simon and reprimanded for conduct unbecoming since they are in their uniforms. To save himself, Paul apologizes and says it was because Alathea agreed to be his wife. Alathea, not wanting to throw him under the bus, keeps quiet. So the rumor mill spreads and everyone is suddenly congratulating them.
Her flatmates give a party and all assume it is an engagement party. Alathea blames Simon, since he seems to be the one egging them on, looking for a ring on her finger and asking when Paul intends to introduce her to his family. Simon even arranges it so Alathea and Paul can fly to Canada together and meet his family. Since they cannot really meet Paul's parents as its a 'fake' engagement, they simply check into a resort, but Simon catches them again and reprimands Alathea. After this, Alathea, fed up breaks up for good with Paul. People are sympathetic and though it was a 'fake' engagement she feels sad. One time, she breaks down in front of Simon so he thinks she really is heartbroken.
Alathea really wants to visit her now married sister, who lives on a Caribbean island, but she has not yet been assigned to that route. On another flight, Alathea unwittingly helps an old lady who has smuggled her cat on board. As senior officer, Simon has to take her to task yet again. Not only is she grounded, she has to serve as a waitress in the Cabin crew restaurant. At the end of her punishment, she is happy to see she has been assigned to the Caribbean route where her sister lives. This gives her a chance to visit her sister. Her sister clears up the misconception that she has been in love with Simon. She clarified that he was the one to convince her to broaden her horizons, which was why she left to go to London.
A few more weeks pass where Alathea realizes that it is Simon whom she loves, but she thinks he is in love with another stewardess, her flatmate. Then Alathea gets to fly to Panama with Simon and as they take off on an empty plane they get word that a rebellion has broken out in the Caribbean island where her sister is. Simon manages to land the plane on the island and pick up all the expats who are being evacuated. On the flight he renews his friendship with Alathea's sister.
When they land, in one of the offices of the airlines, they confess their love for each other and it ends abruptly. Oh well such is the case of these vintage Harleys... I guess it was the fade to black style of those days.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2012
so awful it's great
hilarious 70s romance
i love it
hilarious 70s romance
i love it
January 21, 2025
2.5 stars. Easy to breeze through, but not a great vintage read. The FMC came across as a not-to-bright doormat, and it was difficult to believe the MMC had been harbouring long-standing feelings for her. However, an interesting glimpse into air travel of the day.
December 21, 2023
2,5 stars!
I think I've been reading the steward's manual! Quite interesting I must say.
No kisses! The MC hardly ever talk to each other and spend most of the time apart.
No romantic moments!
I think I've been reading the steward's manual! Quite interesting I must say.
No kisses! The MC hardly ever talk to each other and spend most of the time apart.
No romantic moments!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews