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Girls of Flight City
Inspired by true events, a breathtaking WWII historical novel about the brave American women who trained the British Royal Air Force, by New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath.
1941. A talented flier, Jessie Lovelace yearns for a career in aviation. When the civilian flight school in her small Texas town begins to clandestinely train British pilots for the RAF, she fights to become an instructor. But the task isn't without its perils of near-misses and death. Faced with the weight of her responsibilities, she finds solace with a British officer who knows firsthand the heavy price paid in war . . . until he returns to the battles he never truly left behind.
Rhonda Monroe might not be skilled in the air but can give a trainee a wild ride in a flight simulator. Fearing little, she dares to jeopardize everything for a forbidden relationship with a charismatic airman...
Innocent and fun-loving Kitty Lovelace, Jessie's younger sister, adores dancing with these charming newcomers, realizing too late the risks they pose to her heart.
As the war intensifies and America becomes involved, the Girls of Flight City do their part to bring a victorious end to the conflict, pouring all their energy into preparing the young cadets to take to the skies and defeat the dangers that await. And lives from both sides of the Atlantic will be forever changed by love and loss...
1941. A talented flier, Jessie Lovelace yearns for a career in aviation. When the civilian flight school in her small Texas town begins to clandestinely train British pilots for the RAF, she fights to become an instructor. But the task isn't without its perils of near-misses and death. Faced with the weight of her responsibilities, she finds solace with a British officer who knows firsthand the heavy price paid in war . . . until he returns to the battles he never truly left behind.
Rhonda Monroe might not be skilled in the air but can give a trainee a wild ride in a flight simulator. Fearing little, she dares to jeopardize everything for a forbidden relationship with a charismatic airman...
Innocent and fun-loving Kitty Lovelace, Jessie's younger sister, adores dancing with these charming newcomers, realizing too late the risks they pose to her heart.
As the war intensifies and America becomes involved, the Girls of Flight City do their part to bring a victorious end to the conflict, pouring all their energy into preparing the young cadets to take to the skies and defeat the dangers that await. And lives from both sides of the Atlantic will be forever changed by love and loss...
384 pages, Paperback
First published April 5, 2022
263 people are currently reading
12492 people want to read
About the author
Lorraine Heath
90 books4,377 followersAlso writes Young Adult under Rachel Hawthorne, Jade Parker, and with her son as J.A. London.
Lorraine Heath has always had a soft spot for emotional love stories. No doubt because growing up, watching movies with her mom, she was taught that the best movies "won't half make you cry."
She is the daughter of a British beauty (her mom won second place in a beauty contest sponsored by Max Factor® during which she received a kiss from Caesar Romero, (the Joker on the original Batman TV series) and a Texan who was stationed at Bovingdon while serving in the air force. Lorraine was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, but soon after moved to Texas. Her "dual" nationality has given her a love for all things British and Texan, and she enjoys weaving both heritages through her stories.
When she received her BA degree in psychology from the University of Texas, she had no idea she had gained a foundation that would help her to create believable characters—characters that are often described as “real people.” She began her career writing training manuals and computer code for the IRS, but something was always missing. When she read a romance novel, she became not only hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She's been writing about them ever since.
Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards including RWA's RITA®. Her novels have appeared on bestseller lists, including USA TODAY and the New York Times.
The author of more than 60 novels, she writes historical and contemporary romance for adults and historical romance for teen readers.
Under the names Rachel Hawthorne and Jade Parker, she writes popular contemporary, historical, and paranormal romance for teens readers. She also writes young adult novels with her son under the name J. A. London.
Lorraine Heath has always had a soft spot for emotional love stories. No doubt because growing up, watching movies with her mom, she was taught that the best movies "won't half make you cry."
She is the daughter of a British beauty (her mom won second place in a beauty contest sponsored by Max Factor® during which she received a kiss from Caesar Romero, (the Joker on the original Batman TV series) and a Texan who was stationed at Bovingdon while serving in the air force. Lorraine was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, but soon after moved to Texas. Her "dual" nationality has given her a love for all things British and Texan, and she enjoys weaving both heritages through her stories.
When she received her BA degree in psychology from the University of Texas, she had no idea she had gained a foundation that would help her to create believable characters—characters that are often described as “real people.” She began her career writing training manuals and computer code for the IRS, but something was always missing. When she read a romance novel, she became not only hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She's been writing about them ever since.
Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards including RWA's RITA®. Her novels have appeared on bestseller lists, including USA TODAY and the New York Times.
The author of more than 60 novels, she writes historical and contemporary romance for adults and historical romance for teen readers.
Under the names Rachel Hawthorne and Jade Parker, she writes popular contemporary, historical, and paranormal romance for teens readers. She also writes young adult novels with her son under the name J. A. London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 464 reviews
April 6, 2022
Girls of Flight City by Lorraine Heath
Historical fiction based on real events.
Early 1941. A small town in Texas has a small airport that fits what Britain needs to train men to fly planes to battle. America hasn’t joined the war but they have flight instructors. Jessica Lovelace wants to be one of those instructors but is rejected simply because she’s female. So she’ll train in a simulator to be part of the program.
These men are young. Most still in their teens but ready to learn to fly and fight for their country.
Much of the story is of the cadets training to go off to war. Jessie and sister Kitty have dual POV’s and the story is told of their excitement of the new men in town, of their falling in love and their dedication to the men, the fight and survival.
It’s poignant and sad in parts and also filled with loving, family and life. It’s a bit of a tribute to those that fought and those that did their part to help.
And there are happy endings too. Tearfully happy.
“ Jesse could probably do it (rip the cracker toy apart) alone, but instead of trying, she held it so the other end was pointing his way. They pulled hard and when it broke apart, her items (prizes) went flying all over the place. They both laughed and she knew she’d never forget that sound of their joy mingling.”
Historical fiction based on real events.
Early 1941. A small town in Texas has a small airport that fits what Britain needs to train men to fly planes to battle. America hasn’t joined the war but they have flight instructors. Jessica Lovelace wants to be one of those instructors but is rejected simply because she’s female. So she’ll train in a simulator to be part of the program.
These men are young. Most still in their teens but ready to learn to fly and fight for their country.
Much of the story is of the cadets training to go off to war. Jessie and sister Kitty have dual POV’s and the story is told of their excitement of the new men in town, of their falling in love and their dedication to the men, the fight and survival.
It’s poignant and sad in parts and also filled with loving, family and life. It’s a bit of a tribute to those that fought and those that did their part to help.
And there are happy endings too. Tearfully happy.
“ Jesse could probably do it (rip the cracker toy apart) alone, but instead of trying, she held it so the other end was pointing his way. They pulled hard and when it broke apart, her items (prizes) went flying all over the place. They both laughed and she knew she’d never forget that sound of their joy mingling.”
November 25, 2022
An author that I enjoy wrote something that breaks out of her typical style with this book, and it was very enjoyable. The main characters were developed, and the story followed historical events. The book used several styles to write....some were short letters to home. The main style was to get the thoughts from the 3 main female characters sometimes describing the same events. The book was just missing something towards the middle, and I wanted a little something more as the romances were just woven through to give a hint of flavor but didn't really satisfy. Overall enjoyable read though and loose ends are tied up. I give it a 3.5*
February 13, 2024
I listened to this on audio and it's my first book by this author.
What a wonderful read!!! I loved everything about it! The characters, the story and the outcome. I hadn't read anything about the American side of World War II before and it was interesting to see how they were affected by it.
The small town setting was portrayed very well. The RAF Cadets being trained in the States was something I hadn't heard of.
Jess was a lovely character and her romance with Royce was beautiful. When America joined the war and Royce went back to England the pace of the story changed. It sped up quite a lot and we were told more of the story rather than seeing it but that wasn't enough for me to drop a star. We get a great epilogue which I always enjoy. It was very emotional and I had a lump in my throat when I finished. A terrific read and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys stories set in the war years or if you like stories about family, relationships, heartbreak and love!
What a wonderful read!!! I loved everything about it! The characters, the story and the outcome. I hadn't read anything about the American side of World War II before and it was interesting to see how they were affected by it.
The small town setting was portrayed very well. The RAF Cadets being trained in the States was something I hadn't heard of.
Jess was a lovely character and her romance with Royce was beautiful. When America joined the war and Royce went back to England the pace of the story changed. It sped up quite a lot and we were told more of the story rather than seeing it but that wasn't enough for me to drop a star. We get a great epilogue which I always enjoy. It was very emotional and I had a lump in my throat when I finished. A terrific read and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys stories set in the war years or if you like stories about family, relationships, heartbreak and love!
June 27, 2022
3-1/2*
I am overjoyed when I read a book and learn something I didn’t know before and so it is with this book.
1941 – Royal Air Force cadet pilots were sent to the US to train when British needs outweigh their capacity for pilot training. A number of civilian pilot training schools throughout the USA were converted to British Flying Training School.
This book is set in Terrell, Texas and follows Jessie Lovelace, an accomplished pilot, who yearns to be allowed to train the British pilots but must take a back seat because she is a woman.
The locals are very distrustful of ‘foreigners’ but Jessie’s young sister Kitty is only too happy to welcome the British cadets to her home town where she works at the soda fountain in the drug store.
The premise and the plot of the story is interesting but I am almost always put off when romance is brought into the picture. However, in this case it does not overwhelm the story and hits the right note of happy and sad.
The author, in her acknowledgements named all those who died while in training in Terrell and are at rest in a cemetery tended by the Terrell War Relief Society.
I am overjoyed when I read a book and learn something I didn’t know before and so it is with this book.
1941 – Royal Air Force cadet pilots were sent to the US to train when British needs outweigh their capacity for pilot training. A number of civilian pilot training schools throughout the USA were converted to British Flying Training School.
This book is set in Terrell, Texas and follows Jessie Lovelace, an accomplished pilot, who yearns to be allowed to train the British pilots but must take a back seat because she is a woman.
The locals are very distrustful of ‘foreigners’ but Jessie’s young sister Kitty is only too happy to welcome the British cadets to her home town where she works at the soda fountain in the drug store.
The premise and the plot of the story is interesting but I am almost always put off when romance is brought into the picture. However, in this case it does not overwhelm the story and hits the right note of happy and sad.
The author, in her acknowledgements named all those who died while in training in Terrell and are at rest in a cemetery tended by the Terrell War Relief Society.
June 13, 2022
This Air Force veteran and former Texas resident couldn't pass up "Girls of Flight City" when I saw it on the shelf. After reading "The Paris Secret" and "The Flight Girls," Lorraine Heath's historical novel had a lot to live up to.
Soaring above my expectations, "Girls of Flight City" beautifully and realistically portrayed pilots, student pilots, and Texans. When you read this novel, give the author a chance to set up the story, which is full of action, emotion, and characters you will love. You'll learn an incredible amount about how the human spirit embraces the challenge of keeping goodness alive while fighting an evil force. It's about surviving, holding one's head up when the temptation is to hide, and about loving someone in spite of risk.
Don't forget to read the acknowledgements. You'll want to pay homage to the young men represented by the fictional characters in the book. "Girls of Flight City" has my highest recommendation.
Soaring above my expectations, "Girls of Flight City" beautifully and realistically portrayed pilots, student pilots, and Texans. When you read this novel, give the author a chance to set up the story, which is full of action, emotion, and characters you will love. You'll learn an incredible amount about how the human spirit embraces the challenge of keeping goodness alive while fighting an evil force. It's about surviving, holding one's head up when the temptation is to hide, and about loving someone in spite of risk.
Don't forget to read the acknowledgements. You'll want to pay homage to the young men represented by the fictional characters in the book. "Girls of Flight City" has my highest recommendation.
November 1, 2022
This Air Force veteran and former Texas resident couldn't pass up "Girls of Flight City" when I saw it on the shelf. After reading "The Paris Secret" and "The Flight Girls," Lorraine Heath's historical novel had a lot to live up to.
Soaring above my expectations, "Girls of Flight City" beautifully and realistically portrayed pilots, student pilots, and Texans. When you read this novel, give the author a chance to set up the story, which is full of action, emotion, and characters you will love. You'll learn an incredible amount about how the human spirit embraces the challenge of keeping goodness alive while fighting an evil force. It's about surviving, holding one's head up when the temptation is to hide, and about loving someone in spite of risk.
Don't forget to read the acknowledgements. You'll want to pay homage to the young men represented by the fictional characters in the book. "Girls of Flight City" has my highest recommendation.
March 31, 2023
It wasn't bad, but with all the WWII books out lately, this just didn't add anything to the canon. Nothing stood out.
The pacing was pretty slow and the story arc quite shallow.
I was hoping for historical fiction but this is way more romance which is not my favorite genre. I think there is too much romance for historical fiction fans and too little spice for romance fans.
The pacing was pretty slow and the story arc quite shallow.
I was hoping for historical fiction but this is way more romance which is not my favorite genre. I think there is too much romance for historical fiction fans and too little spice for romance fans.
May 12, 2022
Jesse Lovelace’s family owned a small airstrip and aviation school in north Texas near the town of Terrence, where she was trained to fly by her father starting at a very young age. Her story begins in 1941 when her family’s airstrip is sold six months after her father dies, and her brother Jack leaves for England to fly alongside the British RAF during WW2. The airstrip is now a flying school for British RAF. It follows three women through their joy and sadness as they teach, love, and learn to let go of these British airmen arriving and leaving in their small town.
Girls of Flight City is an emotional coming-of-age story set during WW2, this most certainly pulled at my heartstrings keeping me captivated and invested in the outcome right up to it’s end. Highly recommend to historical fiction readers. So good!
*This is inspired by true events about the brave Texas women who trained the British Royal Air Force during WW2.
Girls of Flight City is an emotional coming-of-age story set during WW2, this most certainly pulled at my heartstrings keeping me captivated and invested in the outcome right up to it’s end. Highly recommend to historical fiction readers. So good!
*This is inspired by true events about the brave Texas women who trained the British Royal Air Force during WW2.
June 27, 2022
Having absolutely loved “The Flight Girls” which has a similar premise and also knowing I love Lorraine Heath as an author (though only having written romance before), I probably went into this book with too high of expectations. This was a good book and I loved how heavy this leaned towards a romance with a very swoony hero (who doesn’t love a handsome officer with a cane?!). But it was sooo predictable and the loose ends were tied in a beautiful bow at the end. Good, not great.
Read
January 29, 2023I'm determined to DNF more in 2023 when books aren't grabbing me. I got to about 12% and didn't care. About any of it. There was no spark of interest there for me to keep going. So I'm setting it aside and moving on.
March 29, 2022
Girls of Flight City by Lorraine Heath is an emotional, and powerful WWII story about a flight training school, in Texas to train RAF pilots. The book tells the story of three brave women who worked at the school and the town that embraced the courageous fliers from the UK.
Jessie Lovelace helped her father build a flight school in a small Texas town and her love of flying was ingrained in her by her late father. When the town decides to buy the school, and allow RAF Pilots to train, she becomes a flight instructor at the school. Jessie is an excellent pilot but is often not recognized because she is a woman.
Rhonda Monroe trains the pilots on the flight simulator and falls in love with an RAF pilot. But, what happens when he must return to his country and the very deadly job of a fighter pilot over the German skies.
Kitty, the younger sister of Jessie, loves dancing with the young pilots and enjoys serving them ice cream at the local drugstore. But, can she resist the temptation of these young men?
I enjoyed this historical WWII novel that highlights the courageous women of the flight school. The author has done a great deal of research to tell us this story that is based on actual events. I loved Jessie the best and her fearless attitude towards flying. She has a zest for life that I just loved. Rhonda and Kitty were also good characters as they each supported the War effort in their own way. I enjoyed the romances and the heartache of these women and especially appreciated the historical details in this book.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Jessie Lovelace helped her father build a flight school in a small Texas town and her love of flying was ingrained in her by her late father. When the town decides to buy the school, and allow RAF Pilots to train, she becomes a flight instructor at the school. Jessie is an excellent pilot but is often not recognized because she is a woman.
Rhonda Monroe trains the pilots on the flight simulator and falls in love with an RAF pilot. But, what happens when he must return to his country and the very deadly job of a fighter pilot over the German skies.
Kitty, the younger sister of Jessie, loves dancing with the young pilots and enjoys serving them ice cream at the local drugstore. But, can she resist the temptation of these young men?
I enjoyed this historical WWII novel that highlights the courageous women of the flight school. The author has done a great deal of research to tell us this story that is based on actual events. I loved Jessie the best and her fearless attitude towards flying. She has a zest for life that I just loved. Rhonda and Kitty were also good characters as they each supported the War effort in their own way. I enjoyed the romances and the heartache of these women and especially appreciated the historical details in this book.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 7, 2022
It may have been a 3 star book until the last ~50 pages. There were so many topics that could have been expanded upon to provide meaning, but it fell flat.
Tender this and tender that blah blah blah.
Tender this and tender that blah blah blah.
March 7, 2022
✈️ Girls of Flight City 🛩
Inspired by True Events, a Novel of WWII, the Royal Air Force, and Texas
✒️ Lorraine Heath
https://www.facebook.com/LorraineHeat... Release Date 04/05/2022
Publisher William Morrow Paperbacks
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098QSPXZH/...
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
Inspired by true events, a breathtaking WWII historical novel about the brave American women who trained the British Royal Air Force, by New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath.
1941. A talented flier, Jessie Lovelace yearns for a career in aviation. When the civilian flight school in her small Texas town begins to clandestinely train British pilots for the RAF, she fights to become an instructor. But the task isn’t without its perils of near-misses and death. Faced with the weight of her responsibilities, she finds solace with a British officer who knows firsthand the heavy price paid in war . . . until he returns to the battles he never truly left behind.
Rhonda Monroe might not be skilled in the air but can give a trainee a wild ride in a flight simulator. Fearing little, she dares to jeopardize everything for a forbidden relationship with a charismatic airman…
Innocent and fun-loving Kitty Lovelace, Jessie's younger sister, adores dancing with these charming newcomers, realizing too late the risks they pose to her heart.
As the war intensifies and America becomes involved, the Girls of Flight City do their part to bring a victorious end to the conflict, pouring all their energy into preparing the young cadets to take to the skies and defeat the dangers that await. And lives from both sides of the Atlantic will be forever changed by love and loss…
𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
A tale of everyday heroes.
As I prepared the informations for this read, I saw the release date has been postponed for next month, so I weighted Against switching for an other arc releasing earlier.
Then decided not to, I had still a bit of a sour taste from my previous read, so I had hope for something so sweeten my mood, and while I knew it was not the romance I am usually reading, I had hope for a great time after all I requested this book mostly because I love the author’s historical romances.
So here we are…
Oh my!
Let me dry my tears.
I am not a great reader of historical fiction, preferring to them romance, but for the few I have read, these romance authors have a way with words and intrigues to convey the right feelings.
The prologue instantly lured me into the story and its bittersweet epilogue just cracked me up.
Jessie is the woman who wants more than being the daughter and sister of a pilot, and least at all a stay-at-home wife, she longs to fly, refuses to have her wings clipped when she believes she has more to offer. But for it to come true, she must prove in a men world, she is as gifted in a cockpit as any other instructor.
Kitty, her younger sister surprised me, I did not expect to see her grow and mature so much, from the sixteen girl with stars in her eyes to the woman she has become by the end of the war, she is the one who changed the most, and for the better.
As for Rhonda, she is more a side character than a main protagonist, being friend with Jessie, we catch glimpses of her joy and hardships.
The heroines while fictional embody all these women who stepped in, made the world a safer, stronger place for those who came after. I did not know this piece of history which played an important part in the war effort.
And to think without these men and women altering and sacrificing their life for freedom, the today’s world would have been quite different. A sour reminder of where we all come from and thanks to.
A wonderful emotional story about every days heroes, their joy, loss, healing and courage to move forward.
5 stars
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses, non descriptive lovemaking.
I have been granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CawjeZCg...
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
bookstagram #historicalfiction #romance #romancebookblog #romancebookblogger #bookblog #romanceauthor #bookblogger #2022read #bookstagrammer #bookreview #romancebookreviewer #arcreader #bookquote #romancestagram #readersofinstagram
Inspired by True Events, a Novel of WWII, the Royal Air Force, and Texas
✒️ Lorraine Heath
https://www.facebook.com/LorraineHeat... Release Date 04/05/2022
Publisher William Morrow Paperbacks
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098QSPXZH/...
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
Inspired by true events, a breathtaking WWII historical novel about the brave American women who trained the British Royal Air Force, by New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath.
1941. A talented flier, Jessie Lovelace yearns for a career in aviation. When the civilian flight school in her small Texas town begins to clandestinely train British pilots for the RAF, she fights to become an instructor. But the task isn’t without its perils of near-misses and death. Faced with the weight of her responsibilities, she finds solace with a British officer who knows firsthand the heavy price paid in war . . . until he returns to the battles he never truly left behind.
Rhonda Monroe might not be skilled in the air but can give a trainee a wild ride in a flight simulator. Fearing little, she dares to jeopardize everything for a forbidden relationship with a charismatic airman…
Innocent and fun-loving Kitty Lovelace, Jessie's younger sister, adores dancing with these charming newcomers, realizing too late the risks they pose to her heart.
As the war intensifies and America becomes involved, the Girls of Flight City do their part to bring a victorious end to the conflict, pouring all their energy into preparing the young cadets to take to the skies and defeat the dangers that await. And lives from both sides of the Atlantic will be forever changed by love and loss…
𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
A tale of everyday heroes.
As I prepared the informations for this read, I saw the release date has been postponed for next month, so I weighted Against switching for an other arc releasing earlier.
Then decided not to, I had still a bit of a sour taste from my previous read, so I had hope for something so sweeten my mood, and while I knew it was not the romance I am usually reading, I had hope for a great time after all I requested this book mostly because I love the author’s historical romances.
So here we are…
Oh my!
Let me dry my tears.
I am not a great reader of historical fiction, preferring to them romance, but for the few I have read, these romance authors have a way with words and intrigues to convey the right feelings.
The prologue instantly lured me into the story and its bittersweet epilogue just cracked me up.
Jessie is the woman who wants more than being the daughter and sister of a pilot, and least at all a stay-at-home wife, she longs to fly, refuses to have her wings clipped when she believes she has more to offer. But for it to come true, she must prove in a men world, she is as gifted in a cockpit as any other instructor.
Kitty, her younger sister surprised me, I did not expect to see her grow and mature so much, from the sixteen girl with stars in her eyes to the woman she has become by the end of the war, she is the one who changed the most, and for the better.
As for Rhonda, she is more a side character than a main protagonist, being friend with Jessie, we catch glimpses of her joy and hardships.
The heroines while fictional embody all these women who stepped in, made the world a safer, stronger place for those who came after. I did not know this piece of history which played an important part in the war effort.
And to think without these men and women altering and sacrificing their life for freedom, the today’s world would have been quite different. A sour reminder of where we all come from and thanks to.
A wonderful emotional story about every days heroes, their joy, loss, healing and courage to move forward.
5 stars
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses, non descriptive lovemaking.
I have been granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CawjeZCg...
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
bookstagram #historicalfiction #romance #romancebookblog #romancebookblogger #bookblog #romanceauthor #bookblogger #2022read #bookstagrammer #bookreview #romancebookreviewer #arcreader #bookquote #romancestagram #readersofinstagram
February 28, 2022
I received this as an ARC. I absolutely love historical fiction and was so excited to read it as I, being born and raised in Texas, had never heard of Flight City. While the story is interesting I found it difficult to read and stay engaged. The prose was off for me and the sentence structure took away from the story. An example sentence within the first page, “It also necessitated an exorbitant amount of concentration not to crash into the other aircraft, sending both barreling toward earth, where the fliers might not only fail to survive but could take with them a few of the gathered spectators who had each paid a dollar to be thrilled by the daring exploits of the two women aviators.” Whew! That is a long sentence and I found similar sentences distracting from the flow. It is an amazing piece of lesser known history, but feels like the author is forcing as much historical information as possible into the story that it disrupts the flow.
July 30, 2022
This book was beautiful and I absolutely adored it! I don’t usually enjoy WWII historical fiction (have read/watched too many over the years), but when my absolute favorite historical romance author writes one…I am all in!
I really enjoyed that this was a different aspect of the war, based on true events about the brave American women (“the Girls of Flight City”) who trained the British Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots who were training and stationed in Texas during WWII. Meeting all the characters, the heroine Jessie who has always dreamed of a career in aviation herself and is a talented flier who has to fight for a job in training, Jessie’s younger sister Kitty, their brother’s letters, the heartbreaks, the love, the loss, the joy. I just was so invested in the entire journey and story! My mom already grabbed my copy to read after me because I was gushing about this storytelling.
I really enjoyed that this was a different aspect of the war, based on true events about the brave American women (“the Girls of Flight City”) who trained the British Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots who were training and stationed in Texas during WWII. Meeting all the characters, the heroine Jessie who has always dreamed of a career in aviation herself and is a talented flier who has to fight for a job in training, Jessie’s younger sister Kitty, their brother’s letters, the heartbreaks, the love, the loss, the joy. I just was so invested in the entire journey and story! My mom already grabbed my copy to read after me because I was gushing about this storytelling.
April 4, 2022
Another historical fiction book that tells a part of three different women and their roll in helping during WWII. The three main characters are women, in Texas, that prepare RAF pilots to fly in the war.
Lorraine Heath obviously did an extensive job researching this story which I felt added to the storylines. It’s amazing all the jobs that women held during the war, beyond Rosie the Riveter and I never tire of finding new stories and jobs that were done by women.
Heath has done a wonderful job capturing just exactly how difficult the job could be along with the heartbreaks that would possibly come from it.
Thank you to #netgalley, and #williammorrow for allowing me the opportunity to read the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own.
Lorraine Heath obviously did an extensive job researching this story which I felt added to the storylines. It’s amazing all the jobs that women held during the war, beyond Rosie the Riveter and I never tire of finding new stories and jobs that were done by women.
Heath has done a wonderful job capturing just exactly how difficult the job could be along with the heartbreaks that would possibly come from it.
Thank you to #netgalley, and #williammorrow for allowing me the opportunity to read the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own.
March 19, 2022
Heath has written a terrific story about Women who trained British pilots during WWII in Texas. These women soared while having to stay behind while the men went off to war, with all the training and knowledge their female instructors instilled in them. Each of the main characters: Kitty, Rhonda, and Jessie had compelling stories. The scenes at the depot tugged at my heart strings.
Sorrow is intermingled with joy and readers won’t be disappointed as they fly through this book.
Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the early copy.
Sorrow is intermingled with joy and readers won’t be disappointed as they fly through this book.
Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the early copy.
April 29, 2023
I’m a WWII historical fiction fan, so it’s no surprise that I enjoyed this book. I mainly just read this because I loved the authors writing, so this being a WWII book was just a plus. The plot was very engaging. I liked all the characters even when they had hardships. And I loved the letters throughout the book. I definitely recommend this one to all who love WWII historical fiction.
April 9, 2022
Girls of Flight City by @lorraineheathauthor is a story based on a true event and I always find true stories interesting.
The story is set in a small town in Texas in 1941, we get to know Jessica Lovelace whose father had a flight school, and she was trained there to be an amazing pilot and when the city decides to buy the schools, Jessica was rejected to be a light in structure and her expertise and skills was unrecognized because she was a woman.
This is a beautiful story about brave women and features the courageous females of the flight school. I went through different feelings of joy and sorrow reading this book and found it very intriguing. The writing style, multiple POV’s and the character all worked very well together.
August 22, 2025
3.5 stars. It wasn’t earth shattering or anything, and it was predictable, but the fact is I’m a sucker for a WWII story, and I really enjoyed the setting in Texas and the interactions between the Texans and Brits.
The love stories were sweet and satisfying.
If you’re a fool for this kind of book - it’ll give you what you need.
I listened to the audiobook and I enjoyed the narrator- she had a deep enough voice that she could do the male and female voices in a convincing way. Gotta give her points for efforts on the Texas, various different English accents and one Scot. She wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough.
The love stories were sweet and satisfying.
If you’re a fool for this kind of book - it’ll give you what you need.
I listened to the audiobook and I enjoyed the narrator- she had a deep enough voice that she could do the male and female voices in a convincing way. Gotta give her points for efforts on the Texas, various different English accents and one Scot. She wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough.
July 8, 2022
5/5 🌟
wow. what an incredible read. i sincerely loved this book. you could tell so much thought went into this book from the insane details. i loved the characters, i loved the writing style, i loved the plot line. 10/10. recommend it to anyone who’s a fan of ww2 novels.
wow. what an incredible read. i sincerely loved this book. you could tell so much thought went into this book from the insane details. i loved the characters, i loved the writing style, i loved the plot line. 10/10. recommend it to anyone who’s a fan of ww2 novels.
September 9, 2023
I loved learning about this piece of Texas and World War II history!!
At first, I thought the book was going a little slow and was too focused on the romance. But then it really picked up and focused on the realities of the war.
Very heartbreaking but also heartwarming read.
At first, I thought the book was going a little slow and was too focused on the romance. But then it really picked up and focused on the realities of the war.
Very heartbreaking but also heartwarming read.
May 13, 2023
Love that this historical fiction was based in The United States. British cadets come to Dallas to get trained to fly in WW2. This book shows the fight some women had to endure to be able to get involved with training the cadets as well as the heartbreak families had to endure when their loved ones were enlisting and going overseas.
April 26, 2022
I absolutely loved this book, about a program where the US was training British RAF fighter pilots in Texas. It’s loosely inspired by Ms Heath’s British mom and Texan fighter-pilot father.
Lorraine comes to us from the world of romance, so the romance is handled deftly in this book. You will feel well served, and I would consider this book to have an HEA for the main couple we spend the most time with, and it leaves you with an ending you’ll feel hopeful about. But be aware that secondary story romances don’t all have happy endings. These are fighter pilots in war, after all.
This is the first book I’ve read that I felt really helped me understand what my Grandma went through emotionally when my grandfather was fighting in WWII. Especially when she was pregnant, and then raising a child on her own. I just recently lost my Grandma, so it was such an unexpected gift to feel closer to her while reading this book.
Whatever Ms Heath writes next, I will read it. This was fantastic.
Lorraine comes to us from the world of romance, so the romance is handled deftly in this book. You will feel well served, and I would consider this book to have an HEA for the main couple we spend the most time with, and it leaves you with an ending you’ll feel hopeful about. But be aware that secondary story romances don’t all have happy endings. These are fighter pilots in war, after all.
This is the first book I’ve read that I felt really helped me understand what my Grandma went through emotionally when my grandfather was fighting in WWII. Especially when she was pregnant, and then raising a child on her own. I just recently lost my Grandma, so it was such an unexpected gift to feel closer to her while reading this book.
Whatever Ms Heath writes next, I will read it. This was fantastic.
Read
December 11, 2024I love a good historical fiction novel and this is no exception. 1. Aviation 2. WWII 3. Texas - I mean COME ON! I had no idea of the US’s involvement in the war prior to Pearl Harbor and while the characters weren’t real it was inspired by real people, real places, and real events. Do not skip out of the authors note at the end! The residents of the fictional town of Terrence (based on the actual town of Terrell- just outside of Dallas) were so lovable. This book had the perfect amount of everything and if you like historical fiction you must read!
April 6, 2022
Terrence, Texas - 1941
Jessie Lovelace misses her dad immensely. Not only was she his favorite, but he had taught her everything he knew about flying. Along with her twin brother, Jack, who is serving with the Royal Air Force in England fighting the Germans, there is very little Jessie doesn't know about flying. But with her father's death, the small airport he and his brother owned is being sold, and will be converted into a flight training facility for the British. The United States is not involved in the war in Europe, it is, however, committed to helping its closest ally. Jessie is determined to be involved with this new project.
Despite the reluctance of the new manager, he does hire Jessie and another woman pilot, her friend Rhonda to run the flight simulators for the newly arrived British airmen. Jessie's mother opens her house to the new senior officer, Wing Commander Royce Ballinger. He and Jessie strike up a friendship as they work together to prepare the airport for the influx of young potential pilots from Britain. He backs some of Jessie's suggestions to the manager, and soon, it's clear that he respects Jessie's knowledge, and flight experience.
With the arrival of the students, Jessie and her younger sister, Kitty, work, each in their own way, to make them feel at home. Kitty convinces locals to organize a dance, and she begins interviewing the men for a school project. Jessie and Rhonda begin working with the cadets in the simulators, hoping that they will be prepared enough for the actual cockpit of a plane. With the departure of one of the male instructors, though, and the encouragement of Royce, Jessie is hired in the instructor's place.
Based on true events, GIRLS OF FLIGHT CITY is indicative of how much the United States ended up depending on the skill of women pilots for various duties during World War II. Jessie's vast experience, and confidence in the cockpit aided a multitude of young men to learn the ins and outs of flying and navigating. With the grudging acceptance of the men in charge, she showed her versatility, as well as her ability to make quick judgement calls. Jessie, her sister, and her friend, Rhonda embrace the newly arrived cadets, trying to make their lives away from home a little better. But sometimes emotions can get in the way. And life gets much more complicated as the year 1941 comes to a close.
Great writing, well rounded characters, and excellent research make GIRLS OF FLIGHT CITY a terrific read.
Jani Brooks
Jessie Lovelace misses her dad immensely. Not only was she his favorite, but he had taught her everything he knew about flying. Along with her twin brother, Jack, who is serving with the Royal Air Force in England fighting the Germans, there is very little Jessie doesn't know about flying. But with her father's death, the small airport he and his brother owned is being sold, and will be converted into a flight training facility for the British. The United States is not involved in the war in Europe, it is, however, committed to helping its closest ally. Jessie is determined to be involved with this new project.
Despite the reluctance of the new manager, he does hire Jessie and another woman pilot, her friend Rhonda to run the flight simulators for the newly arrived British airmen. Jessie's mother opens her house to the new senior officer, Wing Commander Royce Ballinger. He and Jessie strike up a friendship as they work together to prepare the airport for the influx of young potential pilots from Britain. He backs some of Jessie's suggestions to the manager, and soon, it's clear that he respects Jessie's knowledge, and flight experience.
With the arrival of the students, Jessie and her younger sister, Kitty, work, each in their own way, to make them feel at home. Kitty convinces locals to organize a dance, and she begins interviewing the men for a school project. Jessie and Rhonda begin working with the cadets in the simulators, hoping that they will be prepared enough for the actual cockpit of a plane. With the departure of one of the male instructors, though, and the encouragement of Royce, Jessie is hired in the instructor's place.
Based on true events, GIRLS OF FLIGHT CITY is indicative of how much the United States ended up depending on the skill of women pilots for various duties during World War II. Jessie's vast experience, and confidence in the cockpit aided a multitude of young men to learn the ins and outs of flying and navigating. With the grudging acceptance of the men in charge, she showed her versatility, as well as her ability to make quick judgement calls. Jessie, her sister, and her friend, Rhonda embrace the newly arrived cadets, trying to make their lives away from home a little better. But sometimes emotions can get in the way. And life gets much more complicated as the year 1941 comes to a close.
Great writing, well rounded characters, and excellent research make GIRLS OF FLIGHT CITY a terrific read.
Jani Brooks
March 29, 2022
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
While Lorraine Heath’s historical romance writing style never fully clicked with me, I was intrigued by her historical fiction debut, Girls of Flight City. The historical basis is fascinating, as while I’ve gleaned a lot about World War II by virtue of reading a number of the many books out there, this is the first I’ve heard of American women who served in the British Royal Air Force.
And Heath clearly did a lot of research into the topic, as she is very knowledgeable, both about the era itself and the specifics she’s focused on. Sometimes, this enthusiasm for the material does come across a bit too strongly, as it impacts the flow. However, I still feel the immersion into the period was one of the pluses of the novel.
I enjoyed seeing these different women from different backgrounds and with divergent personalities each contributing to the effort in different ways. While I can’t say I was grabbed by any of them super strongly, the often-perilous nature of their undertaking, as well as that of the men also serving in the war alongside them, is well conveyed.
Given Heath’s background as a romance writer, I can see this being a topic of contention between her faithful romance-reader fan base and the “ew, romance!” historical fiction readers. The romance is definitely a side plot, although there is a (non-explicit) sexual encounter between characters, which I felt rather mixed about, as I often do with side romances in books in other genres. However, I mostly found it to be a sweet touch to a book largely about risking one’s life for one’s country.
I enjoyed this book overall, even if it didn’t rock my world and become one of my new historical fiction favorites. But the unique approach to a popular time period is enough for me to recommend it to for anyone interested in the World War II subgenre of historical fiction.
While Lorraine Heath’s historical romance writing style never fully clicked with me, I was intrigued by her historical fiction debut, Girls of Flight City. The historical basis is fascinating, as while I’ve gleaned a lot about World War II by virtue of reading a number of the many books out there, this is the first I’ve heard of American women who served in the British Royal Air Force.
And Heath clearly did a lot of research into the topic, as she is very knowledgeable, both about the era itself and the specifics she’s focused on. Sometimes, this enthusiasm for the material does come across a bit too strongly, as it impacts the flow. However, I still feel the immersion into the period was one of the pluses of the novel.
I enjoyed seeing these different women from different backgrounds and with divergent personalities each contributing to the effort in different ways. While I can’t say I was grabbed by any of them super strongly, the often-perilous nature of their undertaking, as well as that of the men also serving in the war alongside them, is well conveyed.
Given Heath’s background as a romance writer, I can see this being a topic of contention between her faithful romance-reader fan base and the “ew, romance!” historical fiction readers. The romance is definitely a side plot, although there is a (non-explicit) sexual encounter between characters, which I felt rather mixed about, as I often do with side romances in books in other genres. However, I mostly found it to be a sweet touch to a book largely about risking one’s life for one’s country.
I enjoyed this book overall, even if it didn’t rock my world and become one of my new historical fiction favorites. But the unique approach to a popular time period is enough for me to recommend it to for anyone interested in the World War II subgenre of historical fiction.
May 1, 2023
"If I should die, think only this of me
That there is some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England"
I throughly enjoyed reading this heartfelt novel about the No. 1 British Flying School set up in Texas during WWII. I never knew that the RAF liaised with the USA to set up training schools within the USA before the events of Pearl Harbor. Additionally, I never knew that Americans joined the RAF before the events of December 7th 1941 and that they risked their US citizenship being revoked for this. I learnt so many interesting new things through this novel, and it was also a change of scenery to read about small town USA during WWII but before the US entered the war. It provided a different perspective. The addition of the letters scattered throughout the chapters were touching. The characters of Jessie, Kitty and Rhonda were wonderful, and I admired Jessie's tenacious spirit to teach pilots at a time when women doing so was frowned upon. The friendships and bonds the Americans of the small Texan town forged with the RAF cadets were moving, and was something I never would've known about had I not picked up this book. Would definitely recommend if you love historical fiction.
November 16, 2022
This story follows three courageous women as they come of age during WWII. The story is inspired by true events and beautifully and realistically portrays pilots and small-town Texas life. The stories of Jessie, Kitty and Rhonda are filled with heartbreak, death, love and joy. The young women are coming of age at a time where women must step into roles they previously were not allowed to as the local men leave to fight in WWII. The story is a sweeping tale of how women in the smallest of towns in the US helped fight in the war. Although heartbreaking, the reader truly feels present at that time in the small town of Terrell.
Note: The author acknowledges and names all the pilots who died while in training at Terrell and they rest in a local cemetery maintained by the Terrell War Society.
Similar Titles
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn is another thrilling, women centered WWII historical fiction. The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel is a captivating WWII historical fiction novel about the brave people of the French Resistance who risked their lives to forge documents and transport hundreds of Jewish children to safety in Switzerland. Both are amazing reads with strong female characters.
- Reviewed by Kimberly B. (UCL Volunteer)
Note: The author acknowledges and names all the pilots who died while in training at Terrell and they rest in a local cemetery maintained by the Terrell War Society.
Similar Titles
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn is another thrilling, women centered WWII historical fiction. The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel is a captivating WWII historical fiction novel about the brave people of the French Resistance who risked their lives to forge documents and transport hundreds of Jewish children to safety in Switzerland. Both are amazing reads with strong female characters.
- Reviewed by Kimberly B. (UCL Volunteer)
April 10, 2025
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
I’m being very generous by rounding up. I think the epilogue touched my heart and has me feeling generous. To be honest, the book is just ok. I loved the characters but something was missing and I can’t quite put my finger on it. Additionally, she killed off way too many characters. It was overkill. This didn’t affect my rating but the audiobook wasn’t great. The British accents sounded more like a Boston accent. It was interesting to read about the RAF training here and also to just read about a WWII novel set in the US. The majority of them are set in Europe and rightly so but I’m definitely glad I read it and I would recommend it. I just think it could have been better.
I’m being very generous by rounding up. I think the epilogue touched my heart and has me feeling generous. To be honest, the book is just ok. I loved the characters but something was missing and I can’t quite put my finger on it. Additionally, she killed off way too many characters. It was overkill. This didn’t affect my rating but the audiobook wasn’t great. The British accents sounded more like a Boston accent. It was interesting to read about the RAF training here and also to just read about a WWII novel set in the US. The majority of them are set in Europe and rightly so but I’m definitely glad I read it and I would recommend it. I just think it could have been better.
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