Clear to Lift

by Anne A. Wilson

Navy helicopter pilot Lt. Alison Malone has been assigned to a search and rescue team based at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada, near the rugged peaks of the Sierra Nevada, and far from her former elite H-60 squadron. A rule follower by nature, Alison is exasperated and outraged every time she flies with her mission commander, "Boomer" Marks, for whom military procedures are merely a suggestion. Alison is desperate to be transferred out of the boonies, where careers stagnate, and back to her life and fiancé in San Diego. Alison's defenses start to slip when she meets mountain guide Will Cavanaugh during a particularly dicey mission. Will introduces her to a wild, beautiful world of adventure that she has never known before. Stranded on a mountain during a sudden dangerous blizzard, Alison questions every truth she thought she knew about herself. When Will braves the storm to save her life, she must confront the fact that she has been living a lie. But is it too late to change course? Full of action and adventure, dangerous and heart-stopping rescues, blizzards and floods, family secrets and second chances, Clear to Lift by Anne A. Wilson is a thrilling woman's journey as she finds confidence, truth, love, and herself against the majestic backdrop of the Sierra Nevada.

Genres: Romance, Military Fiction, Fiction, Adventure, Action, Contemporary Romance, Military Romance

320 pages, Hardcover

First published July 12, 2016

About the author

Anne A. Wilson lives with her husband and two sons in Fountain Hills, Arizona. When not writing, Anne spends her days on a pool deck coaching triathletes and teaching adults how to swim. She has also worked in the semiconductor industry, and prior to that, served nine years active duty as a navy helicopter pilot, which included three years of search and rescue flying in the high peaks of the Sierra Nevada in California. Her debut novel, HOVER (Macmillan - Tor/Forge), released in June 2015. Her second novel, CLEAR TO LIFT (Macmillan - Tor/Forge), released July 12, 2016.

Reviews

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set amongst the beautiful Sierra Nevada landscape, Clear To Lift is a compelling story of adventure, love, family and self-discovery. The tension, both romantic and life-and-death-danger, leaps off the page, drawing you into this epic story. It is unforgettable, addictive and just so much fun! With vibrant characters, a strong and relatable heroine, blizzards, storms, unexploded bombs, a gorgeous Labrador search and rescue dog, doughnuts and a very ruggedly handsome mountain guide, this book has everything I needed to make it unputdownable. I loved it.

I've got to say I was a little worried that Clear To Lift wouldn't live up to the very high expectations that reading Hover, Anne A. Wilson's first book, created. I shouldn't have worried. Clear To Lift met all those expectations and more. I was biting my nails after the danger-laden first chapter and couldn't wipe the grin off my face after the second. I love the world that Wilson creates. The team banter and camaraderie, the tension during a mission, and the times they let off steam is all so real you feel like you are strapped into the H-1 helicopter right along with the crew.

Lieutenant Alison Malone is our narrator and she makes a great heroine. She is strong, determined, a rule follower and feeling constrained after being deployed to the search and rescue teams - what she considers an end to her commander dreams. Her team, particularly boisterous commander "Boomer" Marks, plan to educate her in working outside the rules and it is so much fun watching them try... as is watching Alison slowly fall in love with the varied terrain and the adventure that goes along with it. Her upbringing, especially being abandoned by her father at a young age, makes her cling to her steady and stable life plans, including her financial investor fiancé. But meeting Will Cavanaugh challenges Alison's view of stable and what that might look like.

Alison and Will's chemistry is off the charts, and I fell for Will straight away. He is charming, kind, brave and risks everything for those around him. Sigh. He makes the perfect love interest and I loved watching Alison and Will grow closer, even as they battle their way through dangerous rescue missions and weather that wildly swings from blizzards and rain storms to steaming hot days that make flying in high altitudes near impossible. Add to this some big family secrets and Alison's journey of discovering more about her past and what she wants for the future, and you have a wonderful book.

It kind of just hit me while reading this book that the author, while also an amazing writer, actually did a lot of the things in this book, can actually fly a helicopter, rescued people in serious life-and-death situations and can probably rock climb and snow hike. It makes the whole story that much more realistic, and so much more awesome.

I very highly recommend this to all readers, especially those who like a little bit of romance along with their action and don't mind becoming so ensnared in a book they won't want it to end.

The publishers provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Find more reviews on my blog Madison's Library.

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Update : before reading.

I'm so excited for this. I loved Hover and have every expectation that Clear To Lift will be just as fantastic.

[laurel [the suspected bibliophile] · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pulse-pounding search and rescue thrill ride!

I really enjoyed this one, and I liked how Alison's need for absolute control and rule-following slowly eroded as she realized that sometimes you have to break the rules in order to save lives. The fact that Wilson was a SAR pilot added to the authenticity of the details, and I really enjoyed the piloting, the relationship Alison had with her crew and Boomer, and the brief glimpses of Navy life that were seen.

However, like Wilson's debut, while the lead up to the climax was really strong, the climax itself was a little...farfetched. Not the rescue part, which was pulled from her life, but the people involved. I get why that happened, but the too-neatness of everything was a bit much.

And lastly, my one other gripe was the use of the Bury Your Gays Trope, in this case combined with the dreaded Side Character Dies and It Shows the Leads That Life Is Too Short For Indecisiveness.

Overall, I really liked this one, and was left wanting more!

[Bibi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whelp. I’m not sure if this was meant to be a romantic story or a flight training manual.

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would normally roll my eyes at a review that states, "Heart-pounding, edge-of-seat adventure." But I'm going to say that. I am aware that is sounds cheesy and cliched, but in this case, it's true. As I read the final rescue scene in this novel, my heart was pounding and I was on the edge of my seat, literally. When I closed the final page and looked at my coworker (I finished reading this on a work break), I actually said, "A woman who saves the day! Exactly my kind of read!" (I was actually more specific in my quote, but to reveal more would be spoilers.)

It's Fallon Navy Base, a woman helicopter pilot doing SARS and bomb clean up and checking into F-18 crashes. It's amazing stuff. I wasn't aware until recently that there was a Navy base in the desert. I was intrigued by life on this base, wish there was more of it, such as the heroine's F-18 ride. More, more, more! I didn't like the casual reveal of that in the middle of the story. I wanted the details.

This woman has more going on than helicopter flying though as she navigates not only the peaks of the Sierra Nevada but the emotions of her heart as she questions her romantic choices and what makes her happy and comes to terms with past abandonment.

The writing is top notch, the story smooth, the action intense. My only quibble is that I felt as though I was thrown into this woman's life all of a sudden. There were lots of things in her past relevant to the tale or that I wanted more of, such as the F18 ride. Basically, I wanted more of this story, this heroine. I would have liked it to have gone a bit more, instead of starting with her at Fallon.

Terrific tale. I cannot wait to see what this author writes next.

Girl power!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book by Anne Wilson. It belongs on your TBR. Read my spoiler-free review at:

Team Skelley

***Received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Rhoda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on StrupagAlison Malone is a 28 year old Navy helicopter pilot. Her most recent posting has seen her stationed in Fallon, Nevada among the Sierra Nevada mountains as part of the Navy's premier search and rescue squadron, the Longhorns. It's not a post she desired, it's more than likely a post that's going to affect her career progression - the guys here are lax on the rules, and to top it off she's away from her fiancé, Rich.

Ali's father abandoned her and her mother when she was just 4 years old. Naturally, this has had a huge impact on her life and she's forever seeking security, stability - it's why she joined the Navy. Rich epitomises this security - an excellent job, wealth, a home, it's exactly what she needs.

Ali and her squadron work closely with the local Search And Rescue (SAR) squad. During the winter months of her placement, she spends time rescuing climbers and hikers trapped by snow and ice in the mountains. The SAR squad specialise in this area, and none are more qualified than Will, the star of the SAR squad who has travelled the world with his talents.

From the moment they meet, Ali can't keep Will from her thoughts. He is everything that Rich is not - but is that a good thing?

You may remember that I read and loved HOVER by Anne A Wilson last year. So when I heard that Anne was releasing a new book in 2016 I immediately added it to my 'most anticipated' list.

Anne A Wilson is herself a former Navy helicopter pilot. This, obviously, means that she can draw upon her own knowledge and experiences in her writing. I love that in reading her books I learn so much. The engineering geek in me loves the more technical aspects of this book.

She draws upon her own emotions too. This is a lady who knows how it feels to hold the lives of others in her hands. She knows what it takes to hold a helicopter at a steady hover just feet from an ice face. All of this comes through in her writing. It's very 'real' and I, for one, love that!

This book is tense, it will keep you reading. From rescue missions to near death experiences, torn emotions to the best glazed doughnuts in the world - you won't be able to stop reading! You may want some pastries to hand for the Erick Schat's Bakkery scene though - I guarantee it will make you hungry.

There are some fantastic characters in this novel - I challenge you not to love Jack, or swoon over Will. Oh and Mojo the rescue dog absolutely captured my heart.

This book also weaves in some interesting military issues - what if your rescue mission involves someone you know? Do you always play by the rulebook? The death of a colleague? Homosexuality in the Navy. These are all issues that wind their way through the narrative.

In case you haven't gathered, I loved this book. Wilson keeps us engaged from the outset. She weaves romance with real, fact-filled action. There's family drama, gorgeous scene-setting and... oh did I mention the doughnuts?

It's so much more than a book about a Navy helicopter pilot - SO MUCH MORE. I was so caught up in this story that not only did I let the fire go out, twice, but I banned my husband from speaking to me unless he had something "substantive to say"!!

If anything I loved Clear to Lift even more than Hover, and I genuinely cannot wait to see what Wilson brings us next. My wee emotions are in tatters, but in the best possible way!

[Cathy Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this book sounds more like women's fiction, if it sounds more like romance, than the books I usually read, you'd be right. However, I read and enjoyed Wilson's first book, Hover, so much that I definitely wanted to give this one a try. I am very glad that I did. The one thing that annoyed me in that first book was the romantic element, but here in Clear to Lift, Wilson has pulled back on the stick just enough to make Alison and Will's budding relationship perfect. In fact, if most men were honest, they'd admit that this is a book they could enjoy, too. After all, Wilson flew nine years as a navy helicopter pilot. She knows what she's talking about.

The characterization of Alison Malone comes close to perfection. This is a young woman who-- due to her father abandoning the family when she was a child-- has learned to always hedge her bets, to always make the safe choice, to always follow the rules. Being assigned to Fallon's search and rescue team is the one thing she needs to start pulling herself out of that veritable cocoon of security blankets. Watching this sometimes painful process (and getting to know the rest of a fine cast of characters) makes for engrossing reading, but Wilson does not stop there. Oh no....

This author is one of the best writers of action sequences I've ever read. Wilson puts the reader in control of a helicopter during the delicate operation of saving a person's life. Then-- when the reader is still glancing nervously at the fuel gauge and altimeter-- Alison's own life is in danger when she's caught in the mountains during a blizzard. Another entire sequence concerning a flood is also wonderfully written. Wilson knows exactly how to place readers right in the middle of the action, and I for one found my heart in my throat or tears in my eyes on multiple occasions. It reminds me of how few writers lately can get me that invested-- mind and heart-- in a story. Anne A. Wilson has that gift, and you'd better believe I'm eagerly awaiting book number three.

[John Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a fascinating cast of characters, Clear to Lift is a compelling read. Yes, it's easy to figure out where the story is going, but this book is more about the journey than the destination and the rescue at the end is written so well I was squirming with worry as I read it. This is an excellent blend of thrills and romance by an author who really knows her stuff.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't expect this to be a one sitting kind of book but I was gripped from start to finish. Alison grew up in Sacramento with her Mom and Step-Dad. She's now in the navy as a helicopter pilot, but she's been assigned to Search and Rescue. She is absolutely not happy about this as it means being away from he fiance Rich, and she feels like her career is going to go stagnant after.

She's the kind of woman that likes stability, and has a nice life with Rich back home, who works in finance. She is a self-confessed indoor person. But when she starts spending time in the mountains, she finds her perspective changing a lot.

She learns about flying in difficult weather conditions and tight spaces, and even gets some mountain rescue training. She is drawn to Will, a mountaineer, who is showing her how to appreciate the outdoors and teaching her to climb.

The book is full of surprise reveals (some are a bit too neat, and predictable, but I loved them all the same). There's a cute mountain rescue Labrador that won my heart. Alison learns how to let loose a little, and what it means to be put first by someone she loves after Rich cancels visits to see her on multiple occasions.

Alison's Mom is also in therapy, and this book is really therapy positive which I loved. Alison's Dad left them when she was young and her Mom never quite got over it.

So yeah, this book was great, had a little cry. Loved the insight into Search and Rescue teams.

[Ela (Mouse333) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked this book, but there were some things that I would have preferred to see happen differently.

I liked how Alison grew and saw that sometimes she had to decide to do things her own way regardless of rules or others’ opinions. I really liked how patient Will was, but I thought that he could have been shown more as it seemed that he and Alison got together quite quickly, after Rich was gone, without really getting to know each other.

I liked the plot, and even when the language got a bit technical, it was interesting, and I thought that it was still understandable.

I didn’t like either of Alison’s parents as they didn’t think about her. Alison’s father only tried to see her twice at the very beginning, then gave up for the next 23 years. Alison’s mother was selfish, and I didn’t like how she wanted Alison to do things her way without really listening and trying to understand Alison.

The end was annoying with how everyone forgave everyone immediately.

There were some side characters that seemed interesting, but I wanted to see them interacting with Alison and Will when they weren’t at work.

[Susan Barich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having been the story editor for "The Shortest Straw: Search and Rescue in the High Sierra," it was fascinating for me to hear some of these same adventures from the rescue-helicopter pilot's point of view. The courage and heroism of Anne and the other rescue-helicopter crews cannot be overstated. These people clearly bend all the rules and put themselves in harm's way on every rescue in the high Sierra where the air is thin and rogue downdrafts and updrafts maraude through some of the highest peaks in California. So, call SAR if you really need them, but reallllly need them.

The book was well written and entertaining. Just right for reading at bedtime.

[S.E. Spracher · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author, Anne A. Wilson, really was a search and rescue helicopter pilot. She didn't just research her subject--she lived it. This gives her readers an unusual glimpse into the world of what it's like to be female military pilot. The action begins in the first paragraph of the first chapter...and just gets more intense from there. So... this book had me hooked from page one. It's a love story, but it's non-stop, white knuckle reading and it was SO FUN! I've just started reading her other book, "Hover", and it's more of the same. Great stuff.

[Neva Womack · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and heartfelt love story between a search and rescue (SAR) helicopter pilot and a mountain climber. Written by Anne Wilson, a US Navy helicopter pilot in real life, it flows and maintains your interest.

[Dragana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am giving this 2.5 stars...the story had potential, I loved the chemistry between the two leads...but just about everything else was OTT or unbelievable...had this been the first book of this aithor I read i would never had the opportunity yo read Hover and that would be a shame..

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot.

[Supernova · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was disappointed because the book had what would probably have been an inappropriate sexual scene. I did not finish this book. There was also a fair amount of coarse language.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing sequel to Hover, I loved both of these books.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

[Dewey · Rating 1 out of 5]

This plot is so simplistic and predictable that I simply could not finish this book. The characters are cliches, 1-dimensional.

[Monika · Rating 3 out of 5]

"You asked if I've ever had someone special. The answer is no... not until now, that is. But unfortunately, she's taken."

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Set in the mountains it gave me some serious envy despite the search and rescue.

[Sharon Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Hover, I decided that Anne Wilson's second book, Clear to Lift, would be perfect for my long flight. The fast paced adventure kept my interest throughout, and I almost missed the snack handout. I loved the many action sequences and was thoroughly sucked into the romance. Both of Wilson's books should be made into movies.

[Peter Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished reading a truly outstanding book.

Anne Wilson came out of the authoring barn at a gallop. Her experience as a rescue pilot informs every page of this book, even those containing no flying. Her representations of the natures of both pilots and outdoorspeople are absolutely genuine.

Her protagonist begins the book in a restless state, engaged to a man who would have been known a few years ago as a yuppie jackass, out of touch with any activity which is not founded on financial gain. By the end of the story she has found her true nature, and true life companion. The romantic portions of the book are in no way intrusive, but essential to the entire narrative. They culminate in the most sensual scene I've ever read, arousing and affecting, but not pornographic.

The rescue sequence toward the end of the book impressed upon me the breadth of Ms. Wilson's flying experience, as no one who had not actually been in those situations could ever translate them onto a page so well. I served as a Navy helicopter crewman, and have operated hoists for personnel transfers, but I was never near anything like the anxiety-spiking high-altitude mountain work described here. I'd prefer to stick to sea rescue.

By the way, there are passages in this book which will make the most dedicated healthy eater salivate with desire for a hot glazed doughnut.

Everyone should read this book! It's so good as a book that it may be sacrilegious to express this opinion, but I think Clear to Lift would make an excellent movie...in the right hands.

[Debi Stout · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took part in the 2016 Summer Reading Challenge with BookSparks this year. I thought I had reported on every book from May, June, July and August, but when I was organizing my books late last week, I came across this book and realized it was part of the #2016SRC (2016 Summer Reading Challenge). Since late is better than never, here's the report on Clear to Lift.

I wasn't sure what to expect with Anne A. Wilson's book, Clear to Lift. I hadn't heard of her before I received this book for review, but the back cover seemed pretty interesting so I jumped right in. What I quickly realized is that the author herself was a Navy helicopter pilot, so she knew about the stuff she was writing quite personally. That always helps a story with all of the details and makes a story flow better for readers.

This story is about Alison Malone, who is a 28 year old Navy helicopter pilot. Against her preference, Ali is stationed in Fallon, Nevada as part of the Navy's premier search and rescue squadron among the Sierra Nevada mountains. This job keeps her away from her financial advisor fiancé, Rich in San Diego, and she isn't a fan. Because Ali is a rule follower, she isn't a fan of some of the other guys.

Ali was raised by her mother since her father abandoned her and her mother when she was just 4 years old. Seeking the feeling of stability and security, she joined the Navy and found a man, Rich who also provides her with that security as well. Meeting Will Cavanaugh challenges Alison's view of stable and what that might look like.

The author does an excellent job weaving in all of the stories that tie together and are solved by the end of the book including where Alison's father went and why certain references were made. I thought it was really cool that the author was a Navy Helicopter Pilot and used her experience into this book.

This book is filled with energy and it'll keep you reading and reading. Readers are taken from rescue missions to near death experiences, and emotions are flying high. Overall, it was a great book that I would recommend to others!

I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from the publishers and BookSparks as part of the 2016 Summer Reading Challenge in exchange for this post, which is my honest review and unbiased opinion.

[Shymsal · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were many things to enjoy about this novel: Action and adventure.. She's a Navy search and rescue helicopter pilot (like the author was in real life, so there's a level of reality to everything that's very cool!) and he's a mountain rescue climber/guide. And the action is powerful: mountain rescues of climbers dangling from ropes, an MC is caught in a sudden deadly blizzard, a heartrending search and rescue for a downed fighter jet, and a final terrible flood where Ally shows what she's really made of.

They are people who fall in love when neither of them were looking for it. And they are mature and honorable people. No he-man teenage bull from Will. No damsel in distress, can't pull my weight bull from Ally.

Unfortunately, Allison is engaged to someone else when she meets Will. But there are no stolen kisses, no "oh we shouldn't but I can't resist" moments. Neither of them forces the other into being the party responsible for dishonorable, shitty behavior.

What didn't work for me was all of Allison's family angst. And the amazing coincidences... But I am willing to forgive those flaws for the rest of it.

[Kristin (Kritters Ramblings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings

Alison Malone is engaged and a navy helicopter pilot stationed in Nevada, far from her fiance in San Diego. She wants this to be just a stop before she can reunite and marry her safe option and start a family. Although she has always taken the safe route her job is anything but safe as she flies in the craziest of situations to search and rescue climbers, accident victims or just explorers.

I loved Alison's story. It was half adventure half romance. As the daughter of an aeronautical engineer, I have always had a fascination with aviation, so to read a book with a lot of detail about flying a helicopter and the ins and outs of search and rescue was intriguing. I say all this to warn you that there was a lot of procedural and flying terms and such and there were some moments where it felt overwhelming. I don't think I would say it should be edited out, but it stunted the flow of the story sometimes.

[V Forr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear to Lift is another superb read from Anne Wilson that turns an incredible personal experience into a dramatic and enjoyable read. The novel focuses on Navy helicopter pilot Lt. Alison Malone and her daring search and rescue work in the beautifully described Sierra Nevada. The characters are multi-faceted, entertaining, and highly relatable. The plot is action-packed from the first rescue to the last. Compared to Wilson's debut novel, Hover, this plot includes more human drama with a touching resolution. For the second time, Wilson displays her skillful storytelling in a most excellent read that I highly recommend. Clear to Lift was worth the wait and I look forward to continuing to read her future work. Happy reading!

[Karen]

Like her debut novel *Hover*, Anne Wilson’s new *Clear to Lift* braids together three plots—a strong romance, heart-stopping adventure, and what I’d call “resolve-an-issue-from-the-past”—holding each in balance for the entire novel. The romance is, in some ways, the strongest thread—what pulled me through to the end was wanting to see how the protagonist Alison was going to escape her engagement to the safe but narcissistic and instagram-addicted rich banker to be with the good, grounded guy. Then again, in those final chapters, with a life-or-death crisis in the shape of a torrential flood in the high mountains, I found myself tearing along the paragraphs … skimming even, to find out how on earth Alison was going to pull it off. All in all, fast-paced and well-written—an engaging read!

[Tracey Cramer-Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought Anne’s first book (Hover) was good; this one is better. The action takes place in Nevada (as opposed to on a flight carrier) and mainly with search-and-rescue (as opposed to military operations). These two things I could understand a lot better than the aircraft carrier and the terrorism plot from Hover, which I think went a long way to me enjoying the story more. The climactic event kept me riveted (I even missed part of our family bonfire!); it was the kind of event I try to include in my books. It’s clear that Anne’s writing from experience here. The only thing I didn’t care for was the sub-plot involving Alison’s mother; it felt too contrived and coincidental especially as the story hurtled toward the climax.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading and loving Hover, I could not wait to get my hands on Anne Wilson's newest novel! The characters were so easy to identify with and so realistically portrayed. The author does an excellent job weaving in multiple stories that tie together beautifully in the end. The love story is strong and the rescue scenes, especially the last one, keep you up at night reading! A wonderful, engaging read!