Landing Zone

by Erin Dutton

Former U.S. Army pilot, Lauren, and police training instructor, Kim, share a love of country, a sense of duty, and grief for a woman who left them too soon. That she was a friend to one and a lover to the other should at least give them something on which to build a friendship. But from the moment they met, they’ve been at odds.

When Lauren gets a job at the same police department as Kim, they are forced to at least fake professional respect. Eventually, respect and begrudging attraction turns to affection, then something deeper.

Genres: Lesbian, LGBT, Romance, Queer, Enemies To Lovers, Audiobook, Workplace Romance

255 pages, Paperback

First published July 17, 2018

About the author

Born and raised in Upstate New York, Erin Dutton moved to Nashville, Tennessee several years ago. No longer a Yankee, and yet not a true Southerner, she remains somewhere between the two, and is happy to claim both places as home. Her days are spent earning a living, while her nights and weekends are divided between several of her favorite things: writing, reading, golf, and her friends. Erin is the author of ten romance novels and the recipient of the 2011 Alice B. Medal for body of work.

Reviews

[Diane Wallace · Rating 2 out of 5]

'NetGalley ARC provided by The Publisher in exchange for an unbiased review'

**'Criticism can never instruct or benefit you/writer..Develop a tough skin.Not everyone likes every book and they wont like yours...'

No Landing Zone its Not!
'LANDING ZONE' is a multifaceted disappointment. Take for instance the blurb which is very misleading because not only does this storyline veer far from it -- i only consider it as readable but with no sense of direction,purpose or any structure and where Lauren needed to also deal with the aftermath of her injuries from the war,and her past memories that she's been running from her entire life. I personally felt there were a few instances where both women (Lauren & Kim) were a bit too irrational at times,undecided about both their future and relationship. Then again,the circumstances surrounding how this story began or even how they knew each other may only justify both ending up seemingly together without that much unreasonable chemistry or being in love. They had to also rediscover the strained relationship between them which was the cause of one being a closeted lesbian -- this relationship was tested as each had to learn how to let down the walls around both their hearts and start trusting each other. Overall,this was a weird story,that was laced with some cheesy dialogue and even the writing was lackluster.

[Lex Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. When I see a new book out by Dutton I know I’m going to read it. She is not one of my favorite authors, but she is pretty consistent in writing books that I like. And I did like this book, but I didn’t love it like I was hoping to.

After an injury that ends her Army career early, Lauren gets a new job flying helicopters for the police department. The helicopter base shares space with the police recruit training grounds. The police instructor in charge of training the recruits is Kim. Lauren immediately can’t keep her eyes off of the beautiful instructor Kim. But what Lauren doesn’t realize is her ex-girlfriend used to be Kim’s best friend. And all Kim can see when she looks at Lauren is a horrible cheater. Can these two women with so much baggage between them ever be anything more?

I can’t help but love stories about women in uniform; military, police, whatever I’ll take it. I also liked that Dutton gave these two a ton of baggage in the way of a potential relationship. There was also a tiny bit of excitement in their jobs that kept the story moving. Overall, I enjoyed the whole storyline.

I thought the romance was decent. They did have some chemistry however there wasn’t a ton of it. But it was enough that I did believe in them as a potential couple. The sex scenes were pretty average. When it came to the conflict I actually thought it was pretty believable. I was happy that the angst did not seem to be forced.

I guess my main issue was I felt like the story on a whole did not have a lot of depth. The characters dealt with some tough issues like PTSD, but everything felt a bit too on the surface for me. When a character is hurting, I want to feel bad for them. Everything was just a tad too far away to really affect me. So while I enjoyed the story and the characters, I wished I had a deeper connection to everything.

I think if you are a fan of Dutton or women in uniform, you will like this story. It is an enjoyable book, it just isn’t great. I will be reading whatever Dutton writes next.

An ARC was given to me by BSB, for a honest review.

[Joc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lauren Henley has worked hard to recover from her injuries in Afghanistan where she was based as a helicopter pilot before retiring from Army and has taken a job with the police department in their air division. Just next door to the hangars is the police department’s new recruits training centre where Kim Montgomery is one of the training officers. Kim recognises Lauren immediately as her late best friend’s cheating ex-girlfriend. Nothing surprises either of them more than the attraction they start feeling for each other.

I’ve only read one other book by Dutton and I wasn’t thrilled by it. It’s quite difficult to know whether the way the author writes just doesn’t work for you, or if it was just that particular book, until you try another one. I’m pleased to say I enjoyed Landing Zone much more than I enjoyed Fully Involved. I liked both characters and appreciated the way they interacted with each other and their dialogue. I got a much better sense of Lauren than I did of Kim but I didn’t mind the one-sidedness because Lauren had a lot more to resolve than Kim did.

This was an all-round good read. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

[Elske · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice book, no less no more. Well written, nice characters, an okay storyline, not too much angst. The problems are solved a little too easily for my taste, but that also makes this a light read. It’s not memorable but I can certainly recommend it. 3.4 stars

[Gaby LezReviewBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lauren is a former army pilot forced to retire due to a war injury. When she gets a job as a helicopter pilot for the Nashville police department, she meets training officer Kim. Both women have a common past, a deceased army pilot called Courtney who was Kim's best friend and Lauren's ex girlfriend. Courtney had accused Lauren of cheating and Kim isn't happy to have Lauren in her workplace. Can they go past their conflict to forge a friendship and maybe something more?

I have read a few of Erin Dutton's books and I found her work a bit hit and miss. I absolutely loved 'Capturing forever' (see my review here: https://lezreviewbooks.com/2016/07/14...) but not so much the rest. Unfortunately I found 'Landing zone' on the average side. Ms. Dutton researched helicopters well, the flying scenes are entertaining and believable. I also liked the landing zone metaphor that gives the title of the book. Having said that, when it comes to the portrayal of the characters, I found the author telling the reader more than showing their feelings. I think that Lauren's PTSD is a bit unrealistic and treated too lightly. The main characters' chemistry works fine and the intimate scenes are well written but their conflict is a bit rushed. It's a pity because the plot had so much potential but, in my opinion, failed short in the execution. However, it's still an enjoyable novel.

Overall, an ok read, specially if you enjoy a women in uniform romance. 3.5 stars.

ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

See all my reviews at
www.lezreviewbooks.com

[MJSam · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARc received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this one. I’ve read most of Dutton’s books and they can be hit and miss for me, but there was a lot to like here. Both main characters were interesting and got equal weight in the story. The setting was also interesting, as were both characters jobs, although I did think the book got a little bogged down in the details about the recruits.

I liked that they cleared the air pretty early about their past baggage and moved on, but felt that there was also a fair bit of going over the same ground (Lauren’s reluctance to be fully out, and for a character who was dead Courtney seemed the third most featured character, it felt like she hung over everything).

Still the characters spent a lot of time together, they talked to each other, and when the angst hit, it felt organic rather than shoehorned in. They also had chemistry and I thought the way their relationship built was actually pretty sweet, and that they achieved a believable HEA. This is probably my favourite of Dutton’s in awhile.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the sound of this book as I love the added complication of friends and ex's. This had the added complication in that the friend had died giving another obstacle to the already fractured relationship between Monty and Lauren. The chemistry between the two was there from the start and I felt Dutton did a fantastic job in slowly shifting the relationship between the two.

Erin Dutton always provides such great insight into the emergency services in all her books and she doesn't disappoint in this book either.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.

I have to admit, the cover on this threw me a bit. But the blurb intrigued me and I enjoy plots that include the military.

We open with Lauren, an ex-military pilot from the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell days who hasn’t really learned to be front facing about her sexuality, and Kim, also former military who now trains police recruits. The two have a mutual connection in their past, one that gives both of them some strife, and predictably causes a bunch of issues they spend the book resolving.

I found the first dates to be quite adorable, and while I wish there was a bit more chemistry, I enjoyed their banter and teasing, and how they used that as a way to clear the air and avoid the past while they could. The secondary characters were memorable and entertaining, from Lauren and Kim’s coworkers to Kim’s recruits. I liked how time was dedicated to explaining the helicopters, the important controls to be aware of and procedure dealing with upkeep and maintenance.

There was so much I wanted to LOVE about this but it sort of missed the mark. The military aspect was interestingly delved into, but I just feel like it was glossed over in some places. PTSD is a common occurrence with veterans and while it did come up and was dealt with well in the scenario, I just feel like it could have been utilized more. Knowing veterans and seeing first hand what PTSD manifests like, it was dealt with far too neatly for my taste. That said, the scenario that was used was an excellent example of how someone could be blindsided by it. I also wish I knew more ABOUT Lauren and Kim. Part of this is because it was meant to be a slow reveal about Lauren’s discharge from the military, but I still was left wanting a bit more.

Overall, this book was good, though I can tell I’ve been spoiled by Radclyffe when it comes to sex scenes as these we’re sort of perfunctory, not bad but nothing I stopped and needed a drink after. I’ve not read anything by Dutton before, but I would definitely try something of hers again.

A copy of this book was provided to me by Bold Strokes Books via Netgalley for an honest review.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Erin Dutton is great at writing relatable characters, and Kim and Lauren are no exception. These are two interesting, strong women who have a lot to figure out if they’re going to be together, and I enjoyed joining them for their journey.

Full review: https://www.thelesbianreview.com/land...

[Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a read about what is next. Lauren Henley, a former army pilot with mental and physical injuries to negotiate after retirement from the military. She continues to have flash backs to her time in Afghanistan that she works to keep in the past. Liking the order and discipline of the military as well as operating a helicopter, she decides the police aviation department is the best place for her. Kim Montgomery, having spent time in the military, now enjoys her work at the training academy, preparing future police officers. I appreciated the reference to policing in today's climate of uncertainty, unrest, and a general "eyebrow raise" to law enforcement. When Lauren is stationed at the same facility as Kim, old issues surface as both women are reminded of unfortunate past events. This is also a read about the emotional transition pre/post DADT. It was interesting to watch their interaction as they give and take with each other. Romance, uncertainty, forgiveness, and letting go.

ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley.

[Jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book a while back but forgot that I had read it and ended up reading it again. I know realise why I didn't remember it, the story wasn't exactly the most memorable.

Kim and Lauren were decent characters and the storyline flowed well but I just didn't connect with the characters or the story.

This is an afternoon read if you are looking to pass some time, which is really sad because there was actually some good material which could have been put to better use.

*3.3 stars

[Kexx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erin is fast becoming a star in my book reading priority list - sorry if I'm catching up late. Excellent story, misunderstandings and powerful arguments and powerful central figures. This Woman knows how to write. Thank you.

Loved Audio version.

[JulesGP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Often in romances, it’s the slow burn or the lead up to the two characters getting together that takes up the bulk of the book. It’s also usually the main sizzle of the story. I didn’t think that was the case with Landing Zone. To me, the story really took off once Kim and Lauren actually started dating because there was so much complexity to their dynamic, even more so than the usual relationship drama. Both of their pasts in the military, facing up to life’s mistakes, forgiving yourself for those errors and moving forward played big roles in this book and were handled very well. And of course, the elephant in the room which was the connection between Kim, Lauren, and Courtney hung over everything. I hope to read more about Kim and Lauren because they still seemed to have more to tell. As far as chemistry and hotness factor for the couple, that’s a yes. I read this book courtesy of NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books in exchange for an honest review.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were some things that exasperated me to no end (Courtney basically, just the hole Courtney thing) but it was an easy enjoyable reading. In another world where Goodreads allows half stars this would have been a 3.5

[isa Simonet · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a very beautiful romance, as Dutton knows so well do it. Both protagonists are credible and lovable. The chemistry between the two works very well. The choice of plot is original with a little technique, but not scary. In short a good mix of everything that makes a romance, a real one. To read absolutely!

C'est une très belle romance, comme sait si bien le faire Dutton. Les deux protagonistes sont crédibles et aimables. La chimie entre les deux fonctionne très bien. Le choix du plot est original avec un peu de technique, mais pas de quoi faire peur. Bref un bon mélange de tout ce qui fait une romance, une vraie. A lire absolument!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was just an ok read… Just not drawn to it though 🙂

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helicopter pilot Lauren, is healing, emotionally and physically, form an injury she sustained while in Afghanistan. She takes a job at a local police station flying their helicopters to try and move forward with her life. She clashes with her past when she runs into Kim, best friend to her ex-girlfriend Courtney. Kim, an instructor at the police academy next door to the helicopter station, believes Lauren cheated on her best friend and doesn't hide the fact that she hates Lauren for what she's done. The two women are drawn to each other in spite of their past, but is the past too much to overcome, or is there such thing as new beginnings?

I really enjoyed this book. It was a easy read in that I was able to really connect to the characters and and get lost in the enjoyment of the book. Kim and Lauren were likeable characters even with the baggage they carried around, some good angst and drama, the chemistry was fantastic and I really liked the way their relationship slowly evolved. I loved all the secondary characters, and the way they helped round out the story. It was interesting to see a glimpse of the side of police work - the academy and helicopter pilots - that I have never actually thought about or read about before. It was a really cool story, and a great tale of love and friendship and healing.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Aj Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

My main issue with Landing Zone is this: getting wet from the rain, (particularly when you're otherwise healthy and right beside changing rooms, showers etc.) does not make you sick! The common cold, the flu etc are viruses, pneumonia can be viral or bacterial and none of these are carried in clouds - agh!

Ok, personal scientific rant over, I feel less strongly about the rest of the novel (apart from fact that Lauren who is part Korean, part African-American is repeatedly described as having latte or caramel skin; again with the fetishising and foodstuffs.)

Basically Lauren is an ex-army pilot the ex part came about due to a leg injury sustained in the line of duty. She has just signed on to be a police pilot and would you believe it, the hanger where she's going to spend her days is right beside the training centre where her dead ex-girlfriend's best friend (confused yet?) Kim works. How coincidental...

Rather than bonding over the death of Courtney (the dead ex/best friend), they hate each other, but for how long? You can probably guess, hatred followed by grudging respect, one saves the other's life or something, friends with longing looks, they have sex, they outwardly regret it and run away, one nearly dies, they declare undying love for each other. I've read about six books since I read Landing Zone and it wasn't really that memorable so the above precis might not be that accurate, but then again...If you want mental popcorn, go ahead you could do a lot worse but you could also read tonnes of way better books.

I gave this three stars because I like the content when they were actually in the helicopter, or talking about the helicopters, I'm a nerd that way :)

[Alena · Rating 1 out of 5]

Netgalley

Wowza. Dutton is always a mixed bag for me. A couple of her books I really liked, most are okay, but none have managed to pretty much enrage me as quickly as this one.

The beginning is pretty much a very lengthy info dump on what the author has learned about this topic. So much about helicopters! I really don’t need an author to prove to me how well researched a book is. The less I as a reader am aware of the research while I’m reading it, the better, I think. But I wasn’t ready to give up yet. Then the author described one of the MC‘s looks as ‚exotic’ due to her mixed-race heritage. I was pretty much out at that point. But I snuck a peek at the following pages only to find a long info dump on the complicated history of the two MCs. And then I was out.

I really expect better writing from such an experienced writer, especially when I know she can.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book more as I do rate Ms Dutton as an author but I felt it just lacked something... It is a romance so the HEA is a given and we get the necessary stumbles along the way as Lauren struggles with being "out" and Kim struggles with developing feelings for her dead best friend's ex.. It has all the ingredients but somehow didn't quite gel for me.

The writing is well paced and the characters are likeable (especially Lauren's helicopter colleagues) and the developing relationship seems credible. I wanted more about Lauren's emotional baggage and why she was the way she was. And I felt at times that Kim was a bit superficial and for someone in such a senior role in the Police, maybe a little lightweight but I read and enjoyed the book.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m surprised at the reviewers that didn’t like this book. I enjoyed it. I read to be swept up In a new adventure or love story. This had a little of both. Maybe being in law enforcement made it more interesting to me, but I am from a small department that doesn’t have an aviation division. I found that interesting. The academy is like police academies anywhere. Some hot shots thinking they are better than anyone else and need to be shown the reality of things. The love story was a difficult but the road to love always has a few bumps. So go read this and form your own opinion, don’t let the naysayers away you.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. I found the back story believable and it lent itself to the conflict feeling real. I wish the chemistry between the two mains had been a little more evident. It was ok, but not what I have experienced in other works by this author.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Mirtha Siblesz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good story

What I liked best about this book was that I would call it a slow burn type of love story. I liked the two main characters Lauren and Kim. Describing their lives apart and when they were together showed how their chemistry was building with each passing moment. It was sweet and sexy at the same time. A very well put together book.

[Ceh131973 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book dealt with some big issues in an amazing way. It is an enemies to lovers book but at it's core it is about forgiveness and healing. The chemistry between the two characters was well developed even as it evolved. This is a good book for a beach read or better yet a book club read.

[Skye Kilaen]

It really hit me the wrong way that the ex-military main character, joining the police force after a military career, thought the helicopter she'd be flying - supposed to be used for patrol and search - should have a machine gun. The militarization of domestic police forces is something I'm concerned about in the real world, so I don't want to go near it in fiction. When the other main character was introduced and seemed to be continuing the theme of police going hand-in-hand with military, I realized the book just wasn't for me.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story very much. It involved some unexpected issues, such as "don't ask don't tell", concerns about coming out to coworkers and career goals. I especially enjoyed the interesting information regarding the flying and maintaining a police helicopter. I didnt know they dont fly in bad weather...never occurred to me. The characters are very likeable and the romance very warm. A lot of camaraderie in this story.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

US Army helicopter pilot Lauren Henley took a medical retirement after being shot down in Afghanistan. She was devastated because she’d known she would spend her entire working life in the Army. While she was recovering, she was approached by a representative of the Nashville Police Department with an offer of a job flying helicopters. While it was not what she wanted for herself, it was certainly better than the alternatives. On her first day of her new job, she becomes aware that Kim Montgomery, the best friend of her ex, and a woman who did not like Lauren, works nearby as a trainer of soon-to-be new police officers. As they are forced to interact on the job, they slowly get beyond their respective dislike of one another and move into a relationship of sorts.

Dutton has created a story that one doesn’t often see in LesFic, and she does it well. The book is well written, has moments of humor and the characters are believable and likable. An additional believable conflict occurs late in the book that may undermine Lauren and Kim’s blooming relationship and is believably resolved.

The one thing I had problems with was Kim’s feelings about Lauren’s ex. Dutton has Kim acting more like she’d been personally wronged, when in reality it was her best friend who had allegedly been wrong. It’s one thing to be supportive when your best friend has a bad break up, but making the feelings of having been betrayed as her own? I didn’t find it believable, but luckily that occurred very early in the book and Kim finally found out the truth about her friend’s breakup with Lauren.

[Bee Sherrard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read most of Ms Duttons book I was looking forward to reading this effort and I’m happy to say that she continues to deliver. In this book we have Lauren Henley who always wanted to follow her father and grandfather in serving her country by enlisting into the USA Army as a pilot, flying helicopters. When she joined DADT was still in place so when she started dating a fellow pilot it wasn’t long before she wanted Lauren to leave her dream and start a life outside the army. Lauren tries to tell her it’s not going to happen so when her GF Courtney hears rumours Lauren has been cheating on her she does nothing to fight the rumors. While Lauren goes onto her next assignment so does Courtney all the while telling her BF Kim Montgomery the rumors were true. Shortly after Courtney goes on to her next post she where she’s killed in a flying accident. When Kim’s released from her duties she moves to Tennessee to become a police officer. Two years in she is asked to teach at the police academy, a job she’s not only good at but a job she loves. Lauren serves until she’s injured. An old friend offers her a job flying for the same police force where Kim has made her home. We know these two will fall in love but the path to happily after isn’t any way smooth. Ms Dutton knows how to tell a story. This book reminds me why I liked her other books. Very enjoyable read.
eARC via NetGalley

[Katrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty mediocre book. If I am being honest I was very uncomfortable with the friend dating the ex thing. It just seems weird that they would both be okay in that relationship. The plot wasn’t great, the story felt a bit stale and like I have read similar books in the past. There wasn’t anything about this that made me feel like it was a great book. The love story was cliched, the two leads read very similarly so I kept having to reread passages to know who was speaking. Overall not the best book I have read in a while.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books.