Beneath bomb-filled skies, Head Radio Operator Lynne Cecil takes the safety of her RAF pilots seriously. They're England's last defense against the Luftwaffe. But too many pilots die on her watch. The top brass harass her for answers, but her team is giving their all.
Devastated by the death of his brother, Spitfire ace Billy Jenkins accepts a secret assignment to investigate the high rate of deaths. But the person who seems at fault is his old flame, Lynne. Torn between duty and love, Billy must discover if the woman he still adores is responsible for the loss of his fellow flyers.
Lynne can't afford the distraction of falling for a fighter pilot like Billy at this dangerous time. But every flight could be Billy's last. Will she settle for one night of passion or risk losing him forever?
I really liked this short romance story, I wish it had been longer. Would have liked to see more of Billy and Lynne's relationship and maybe some flashbacks of their pasts and Billy's war stories. Looking forward to reading Summer In Rye!
As Tara mentioned in her comments, I was more interested in Lynne Cecil's character as the Head Radio Operator of RAF. A good entertainment while watching the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games.
Taking place in England during WWll Billy and Lynne knew each other from years before and she's always had a crush on him. Now, as a tower operator she listens so often to the screams of men whose planes are hit and dying. Billy is now one of those flying a spitfire but also on an undercover mission to find a traitor who delays the call to scramble, giving the enemy time to get in position resulting in higher number of English pilots deaths. Lots of story packed into this novella. Almost wish it was longer but an enjoyable read.
As soon as I saw a new book by Lucy Oliver up for review, I knew I must request it, because I so enjoyed her earlier books. I knew I would love the book, and I was right.
In terms of the romantic novella, this is perfection. It has everything you could want:
Thehistorical setting is vivid and realistic. I was fascinated by the detail on the air defence, and especially the role of the head radio operator – I had no idea of the responsibility they shouldered. The darkness at the centre of the story (too many pilots die on Lynne’s watch) is compelling, and it made me wonder how true to life this part of the story is. I’ll say no more for fear of spoiling this plot element!
The story is poignant and compelling with mystery and plenty of passion and drama. Plenty! The backdrop of the war really heightens emotions and squeezes the time frame for a love affair. In a time when you knew every moment was so very precious, there was no time to mess about in love – and that feeling of urgency and intensity, mingled with fear of loss, permeates the story.
The author shapes characters whom you can’t help but feel for and admire. Billy is sublimely easy to fall in love with, given his heroic job as fighter pilot – but there are such depths to this man, who battles grief over the loss of friends and the difficult job of investigating the death rate connected to Lynne’s team. But for me, the stand-out character is Lynne herself. How wonderful to have such a capable and strong heroine for the era! And we can well understand both her reticence at falling in love in such times, and with such a man, and also the strength of her passion when she finally sets it free.
Finally, the writing style is lovely. So easy to read, transporting you to another time – evocative, colourful, beautiful.
I was utterly gripped and caught up in the story world, so much that so that I read the novella in one sitting (fuelled by three coffees).
If you want to be moved and to be swept away in romance, this book is a must-read.
Heavenly. I can’t wait for Lucy’s next book…
I reviewed this book for the Romantic Historical Fiction Lovers.
A decent read. Sometimes I like a quickie, something I can read in an hour, a break from that longer book that is taking a week.
What I appreciate the most about this story is the look at flight operations during WWII. I'm just assuming the author did her research--even though I've never heard of a yoke called a wheel. Regardless, it's kinda neat to see what all could go wrong in the days before computers. Trying to safely get planes in the air in a timely manner during a war is no easy task. I also liked that we have a female control tower operator. Like I said, NOT an easy job.
Also appreciated the moral: It's better to have some happy memories, to have loved and lost, than to have nothing at all.
I felt the romance was awful quick and it didn't wow me. I got that they knew each other from before but it's not like that went well. But I expected that with the word count being what it is and I didn't pick it up for romance/sex anyway, but the war-time story.
It's well-written and edited as well. I believe there were only two typos in the entire tale. I've grown weary of small-press books and normally expect a hot mess, but this did not have those issues.
A gorgeous short story about Lynne who works as a head radio operator in England in 1942. She helps guide Spitfires (war planes), which are just awesome, into the air, but her line of work is a difficult one. I wouldn’t want to do it. Not when they keep losing pilots. In comes Billy, her ex-flame and the man asked to look into why so many pilots are dying. I loved that Billy had to investigate Lynne. It offered wonderful conflict and really tugged at the heart. I won’t give away the ending or how things play out between the two, but this is definitely a read I’d recommend. At times I did wish the author slowed down a bit. I wanted to spend more time in the characters’ heads and get to know them better. But other than that, this was a fast, entertaining read set in World War II, and I’ll be sure to pick up more books from Oliver.
This is both a love story and a peek into the lives of the men who patrolled the skies above Britain and the women who worked for the RAF and sent them out, often to a sure death. Lynne and Billy knew each other from happier times and reconnect when he's sent to find out why Lynne's group has a higher casualty rate for Spitfire pilots than other groups do. The intertwined stories of their relationship and the mystery they have to solve is an easy, fun read with just enough tension to satisfy.