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Bumpy Landings
When Jordan MacDonald goes behind his mother's back to get his pilot's license, he soon finds out that a life full of dishonesty attracts more turbulence than he's ever faced in the air. Set against the majestic backdrop of the Hawaiian islands, this heartwarming story of romance and self-discovery will take you to new heights with each turn of the page.
First published January 7, 2011
1 person is currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Donald J. Carey
4 books22 followersDon Carey is a software engineer by day, a husband and father by night, and an author toiling to give life to the many stories in his head during his all-too-brief lunch hours.
Although his literary heart has always belonged to Science Fiction, his muse has given him a pair of realistic contemporary stories for his first two books, both set in his childhood home of Hawai’i.
Don enjoys music, travel, home-made pizza, and the company of his fellow writers – a group of people by and large as odd as he is.
Although his literary heart has always belonged to Science Fiction, his muse has given him a pair of realistic contemporary stories for his first two books, both set in his childhood home of Hawai’i.
Don enjoys music, travel, home-made pizza, and the company of his fellow writers – a group of people by and large as odd as he is.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
October 3, 2011
This first novel by my brother, Don, is set in beautiful Hawaii and is a story of love, leis, and lies. I have just started reading and am excited to finish. Just a note, although the book is fictitious, I know some of you may wonder how much is based on actual people and events. The sister of the main character may sometimes resemble me, but when she is whiny, annoying, or not nice, it is clearly fictitious or perhaps he was drawing from another sister. :)
January 20, 2011
Donald J. Carey's BUMPY LANDINGS is something sweet, tropical and fun, sprinkled with cringe-worthy coming-of-age awkwardities and challenges. There I go making up words again. It's a clean coming-of-age romance.
I immediately felt compassion for Jordan MacDonald, the main character, as he is just trying so hard to be a man, to do the right thing, to follow his heart. But obstacle after big Hawaiian obstacle is clonked in his way. To build up his courage, Jordan tells himself he's changed because of his mission, that he's a man now. And then he goes and does very naive and sweetly sophomoric things. Often with disastrous results. What makes him loveable is his heart is always in the right place, despite his over-bearing, exasperating mother, a rather large bully, and a surprise girlfriend who, after all the making out, has no interest in Jordan's dreams. I wanted Jordan to succeed.
Jordan dreams of flying. And figuring a way to make Kehau, the lovely elusive Hawaiian girl, fall in love, real love, with him. Watching Jordan deal with blow after blow, hitting some hard life lessons, was a pleasure, because I got to see him grow, bit by bit. It was a bonus, to watch him grow in the lush surroundings of the Hawaiian Islands. The author does not leave the reader wanting in scenery, and I was submerged in sights, sounds, and scents. And tastes!
Thanks for the vacation, Don!
I immediately felt compassion for Jordan MacDonald, the main character, as he is just trying so hard to be a man, to do the right thing, to follow his heart. But obstacle after big Hawaiian obstacle is clonked in his way. To build up his courage, Jordan tells himself he's changed because of his mission, that he's a man now. And then he goes and does very naive and sweetly sophomoric things. Often with disastrous results. What makes him loveable is his heart is always in the right place, despite his over-bearing, exasperating mother, a rather large bully, and a surprise girlfriend who, after all the making out, has no interest in Jordan's dreams. I wanted Jordan to succeed.
Jordan dreams of flying. And figuring a way to make Kehau, the lovely elusive Hawaiian girl, fall in love, real love, with him. Watching Jordan deal with blow after blow, hitting some hard life lessons, was a pleasure, because I got to see him grow, bit by bit. It was a bonus, to watch him grow in the lush surroundings of the Hawaiian Islands. The author does not leave the reader wanting in scenery, and I was submerged in sights, sounds, and scents. And tastes!
Thanks for the vacation, Don!
March 15, 2011
This wasn't for me. I was really excited reading the description, but what it doesn't mention is that it's based completely around the morman faith. There is nothing wrong with that really, but you'd think it would have been mentioned...
I also REALLY disliked the main character. I thought he was selfish and weak. It was so annoying that he pretty much thought his life was over if he didn't get a girlfriend/wife. And the end, I just didn't agree with it. And his mom was huge bitch, and that was never resolved either.
I also REALLY disliked the main character. I thought he was selfish and weak. It was so annoying that he pretty much thought his life was over if he didn't get a girlfriend/wife. And the end, I just didn't agree with it. And his mom was huge bitch, and that was never resolved either.
February 12, 2011
If you're looking for the perfect book to read during a cold spell, "Bumpy Landings" is it! This tale of love and lies, pilots and pani popo will draw you in from the first page.
Don Carey's characters are as warm as the Hawaiian climate. You'll enjoy this coming of age story. I know I'm hoping for a sequel!
Don Carey's characters are as warm as the Hawaiian climate. You'll enjoy this coming of age story. I know I'm hoping for a sequel!
June 22, 2011
GREAT story. Who knew Don Carey was such a romantic? I loved reading it from the male POV. I also loved how he tied the story together and weaved in so many threads. Highly recommend it!
June 11, 2015
I always love a clean romance and the guy's POV in this one was so great. I really felt like I'd been hanging inside a real dude's head. That was my favorite part. :)
March 8, 2023
Lacking in so many ways
What did I enjoy? There were some good moments. If this were a series of short stories, each with good beginnings and clear endings, then this would have been much better. Either that or more depth to the novel.
I also enjoyed the setting. I also like the plane scenes, though I could have used more scenery.
Grammar needed a better editor. There were also some glaring typos that a good editor would have found.
There were two major problems. The first bring plot. It was hard to figure out what the plot was. There were so many subplots that went as quickly as they came, and that is why I think this should have been short stories. Anyway, the book lacked direction at times. It felt like a memoir.
The other big problem was characters. The main character is such an asshole at times. I hated him. All characters lacked realistic behaviors. Like what was up with calling his mom Beth half the time. I can understand being flippant in dialog, but most of the time was in prose. The main character was very childish. I thought he was 16 for a while.
The ending was very abrupt as well. Satisfying, but abrupt.
What did I enjoy? There were some good moments. If this were a series of short stories, each with good beginnings and clear endings, then this would have been much better. Either that or more depth to the novel.
I also enjoyed the setting. I also like the plane scenes, though I could have used more scenery.
Grammar needed a better editor. There were also some glaring typos that a good editor would have found.
There were two major problems. The first bring plot. It was hard to figure out what the plot was. There were so many subplots that went as quickly as they came, and that is why I think this should have been short stories. Anyway, the book lacked direction at times. It felt like a memoir.
The other big problem was characters. The main character is such an asshole at times. I hated him. All characters lacked realistic behaviors. Like what was up with calling his mom Beth half the time. I can understand being flippant in dialog, but most of the time was in prose. The main character was very childish. I thought he was 16 for a while.
The ending was very abrupt as well. Satisfying, but abrupt.
July 3, 2020
Jordan is a recently returned missionary who goes back to his home in Hawaii where his mom is a professor at BYU-Hawaii and decides to start looking for someone to date and finish his pilot license.
He's not great at standing up for himself and he lets everyone, including his mom, tell him what he should and shouldn't be doing instead of being a grown up and making his own decisions and not hiding them. He hides that he's finishing his pilot license because his mom doesn't want him to fly. His mom interferes with who he's dating (meeting them intentionally before he can introduce them) and even tells him not to date anyone who isn't white (yikes! as a professor at BYU-Hawaii!?)
I thought about quitting the book partway through because I don't like whiny characters, but thought I'd better make sure he gained some gumption by the end of the book. Part of growing up is gaining greater strength and insight into what's important and how to stand up for it, but some of the areas feel too glossed over and while Jordan makes progress, I didn't see any change in several other characters.
He's not great at standing up for himself and he lets everyone, including his mom, tell him what he should and shouldn't be doing instead of being a grown up and making his own decisions and not hiding them. He hides that he's finishing his pilot license because his mom doesn't want him to fly. His mom interferes with who he's dating (meeting them intentionally before he can introduce them) and even tells him not to date anyone who isn't white (yikes! as a professor at BYU-Hawaii!?)
I thought about quitting the book partway through because I don't like whiny characters, but thought I'd better make sure he gained some gumption by the end of the book. Part of growing up is gaining greater strength and insight into what's important and how to stand up for it, but some of the areas feel too glossed over and while Jordan makes progress, I didn't see any change in several other characters.
February 22, 2023
This was a fun book. It has a lot of islander culture in it, which was cool, and aviation knowledge too, which was neat. It’s definitely an LDS book with church culture prevalent throughout. It was entertaining, but not super special. Most of the story I was frustrated the main character wouldn’t stand up to his controlling mother, and I’m not sure I liked the ending much either. Why couldn’t he just wait and give her a chance to do something she wanted to do? There wasn’t much risk for him to wait on his end, and she wouldn’t have had to sacrifice a dream of hers in order to have a future with him. However, that is a realistic situation, so I get that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2011
Bumpy Landings is fresh and clean, like a tropical wind.
Food to eat while reading: Torqued Pani Popo (www.dearestdreams.com)
Bumpy Landings by Don Carey is anything but bumpy. The writing is smooth and flowing and I lost myself in Jordan MacDonald’s Hawaiian world.
First off, I love Hawaii so I just soaked in the culture and setting that Carey deftly wove into the background. I was immediately drawn into the story and soon found myself relating to Jordan and his flight plights.
One of the things I love about Hawaii is the food and Carey included the food culture into the book. I recognized favorite Hawaiian foods and learned about new ones like pani popo, a sweet coconut bread.
I am not a big fan of male protagonists but Jordan is likeable and easy going and I fell into rhythm with his character right away. Readers will have no trouble reading a tropical romance from a guys point of view.
Jordan experiences all of the ups and downs of returning home from a religious mission, attending college while staying at home with mom and the obvious absence of his deceased father, dating girls who might not have his best interests in mind, and wondering how to win over the girl his heart aches for. Jordan’s voice is refreshing and his heart is in the right place. You will find yourself routing for this dreaming yet tentative hero.
Jordan’s mother and girlfriend, Heather, are controlling and try to rule over him. Even though I can see why they act the way they do, their characters feel a bit two-dimensional. When Jordan and his mother talk things through I felt like she was a poster board character instead of an actual force in his life.
The scenes in the flower shop where Jordan worked and in the Polynesian Cultural Center were fun and added extra interest in the story. I get the feeling that Carey worked or frequented both places when he lived in Hawaii.
There were several times in the story that I thought I knew where the story was going and I was pleasantly surprised each time the story took a twist in a different direction.
I was happy when Carey informed me that there will be a sequel to Bumpy Landings (no word yet as to publication date)—not so much because I am dying to know what happens next, but because I feel like Jordan is an old friend that I want to stay in touch with.
Food to eat while reading: Torqued Pani Popo (www.dearestdreams.com)
Bumpy Landings by Don Carey is anything but bumpy. The writing is smooth and flowing and I lost myself in Jordan MacDonald’s Hawaiian world.
First off, I love Hawaii so I just soaked in the culture and setting that Carey deftly wove into the background. I was immediately drawn into the story and soon found myself relating to Jordan and his flight plights.
One of the things I love about Hawaii is the food and Carey included the food culture into the book. I recognized favorite Hawaiian foods and learned about new ones like pani popo, a sweet coconut bread.
I am not a big fan of male protagonists but Jordan is likeable and easy going and I fell into rhythm with his character right away. Readers will have no trouble reading a tropical romance from a guys point of view.
Jordan experiences all of the ups and downs of returning home from a religious mission, attending college while staying at home with mom and the obvious absence of his deceased father, dating girls who might not have his best interests in mind, and wondering how to win over the girl his heart aches for. Jordan’s voice is refreshing and his heart is in the right place. You will find yourself routing for this dreaming yet tentative hero.
Jordan’s mother and girlfriend, Heather, are controlling and try to rule over him. Even though I can see why they act the way they do, their characters feel a bit two-dimensional. When Jordan and his mother talk things through I felt like she was a poster board character instead of an actual force in his life.
The scenes in the flower shop where Jordan worked and in the Polynesian Cultural Center were fun and added extra interest in the story. I get the feeling that Carey worked or frequented both places when he lived in Hawaii.
There were several times in the story that I thought I knew where the story was going and I was pleasantly surprised each time the story took a twist in a different direction.
I was happy when Carey informed me that there will be a sequel to Bumpy Landings (no word yet as to publication date)—not so much because I am dying to know what happens next, but because I feel like Jordan is an old friend that I want to stay in touch with.
March 16, 2011
Our main character is Jordan McDonald. He's recently returned from his mission and has made up his mind to reinvent himself. He wants to make a success of his life and achieve some dreams he's had for a long time - mainly, to get his pilot's license and honor his deceased father's last wish for him. But his mother has reasons of her own for not supporting Jordan in his dream, and he must decide whether to openly defy her, turn his back on his father's request, or sneak around behind her back. He chooses the sneaky option.
Living in Hawaii as he does, he's blessed in a lot of ways - he attends BYU Hawaii, he gets to enjoy the gorgeous scenery ... and he meets the beautiful Kehau. He is smitten by her from the moment they first meet, but she seems completely unattainable. He's not sure how to go about getting her attention, but there's just got to be a way. When that chance comes up, he takes it - she needs to go to another island, and he's just the man to fly her there. It will take a bunch of lying to accomplish it, but if he gets the girl ... isn't that the important thing?
Yes, Jordan does make a series of mistakes throughout the book, but then we see something change within him and he realizes that he's not finding the joy he wants to find in the way he's living his life. As he comes clean with his mother and works on forming better relationships all the way around, we see him morph into "a new man," the goal he's had since the start of the book. Yes, he achieved that goal, but not in the way he expected, and he's a better "new man" than he had ever anticipated.
Bumpy Landings was a fun read for me because it was completely out of the norm. It's set in Hawaii, and who wouldn't love a book set in Hawaii? It's written largely based on the author's own experiences - Don is a pilot, and his descriptions of the flight lessons, etc, are all true to life, and he also worked in a floral shop, making Jordan's part-time job very realistic. In addition to all that, it's a romance from a guy's perspective, and we don't see that often enough.
I give Bumpy Landings two big thumbs up and can't wait to see what's next from this fresh, creative writer.
Living in Hawaii as he does, he's blessed in a lot of ways - he attends BYU Hawaii, he gets to enjoy the gorgeous scenery ... and he meets the beautiful Kehau. He is smitten by her from the moment they first meet, but she seems completely unattainable. He's not sure how to go about getting her attention, but there's just got to be a way. When that chance comes up, he takes it - she needs to go to another island, and he's just the man to fly her there. It will take a bunch of lying to accomplish it, but if he gets the girl ... isn't that the important thing?
Yes, Jordan does make a series of mistakes throughout the book, but then we see something change within him and he realizes that he's not finding the joy he wants to find in the way he's living his life. As he comes clean with his mother and works on forming better relationships all the way around, we see him morph into "a new man," the goal he's had since the start of the book. Yes, he achieved that goal, but not in the way he expected, and he's a better "new man" than he had ever anticipated.
Bumpy Landings was a fun read for me because it was completely out of the norm. It's set in Hawaii, and who wouldn't love a book set in Hawaii? It's written largely based on the author's own experiences - Don is a pilot, and his descriptions of the flight lessons, etc, are all true to life, and he also worked in a floral shop, making Jordan's part-time job very realistic. In addition to all that, it's a romance from a guy's perspective, and we don't see that often enough.
I give Bumpy Landings two big thumbs up and can't wait to see what's next from this fresh, creative writer.
Read
January 19, 2011Read full review here:
http://ldswbr.blogspot.com/2011/01/bu...
I'll never forget the first time I met Donald. Hillary and I had just started interviewing people at the April 2010 LDStorymakers Conference when a gentleman caught my attention and introduced himself. I was ecstatic to meet Don because I had never before met one of the male listeners to the LDS Women's Book Review podcast.
As I interviewed him and learned more about his book scheduled to be released in January 2011, I was surprised to learn that he was writing what would technically be considered a romance.
A romance, written by a man? Needless to say, I was very curious.
I can honestly tell you I was not disappointed. One of the things I love about book reviewing is the wide variety of books I get to read, even within the same genre. In the last two days I have reviewed three romances, and despite falling into the same genre, not one of these books felt like the others.
First of all, I love the cover. The green color with the contrast of a white and blue title is eye-catching, and I like aviation-themed accents. The title is perfect - our man, Jordan, hits his fair share of figurative and literal bumpy landings.
As I read, I found myself encouraging Jordan to take a stand and follow his dreams. I was afforded a peek at what it must be like for a college guy doing his best to keep everyone happy while struggling to figure out who he is and what he really wants. There were a few little twists in the story that I didn't expect. I wasn't sure how the story would turn out, or even how I wanted it to turn out, until the very end. I enjoyed watching Jordan's character grow from his experiences that ranged from stupid mistakes to a tragic accident.
The writing is clean and held my attention. I've never been to Hawaii, and now I'm curious about some of the places the characters visit, as well as the food. I think they should have added the recipes for pani popo and malasadas at the end of the book, though I'll pass on the opihi.
http://ldswbr.blogspot.com/2011/01/bu...
I'll never forget the first time I met Donald. Hillary and I had just started interviewing people at the April 2010 LDStorymakers Conference when a gentleman caught my attention and introduced himself. I was ecstatic to meet Don because I had never before met one of the male listeners to the LDS Women's Book Review podcast.
As I interviewed him and learned more about his book scheduled to be released in January 2011, I was surprised to learn that he was writing what would technically be considered a romance.
A romance, written by a man? Needless to say, I was very curious.
I can honestly tell you I was not disappointed. One of the things I love about book reviewing is the wide variety of books I get to read, even within the same genre. In the last two days I have reviewed three romances, and despite falling into the same genre, not one of these books felt like the others.
First of all, I love the cover. The green color with the contrast of a white and blue title is eye-catching, and I like aviation-themed accents. The title is perfect - our man, Jordan, hits his fair share of figurative and literal bumpy landings.
As I read, I found myself encouraging Jordan to take a stand and follow his dreams. I was afforded a peek at what it must be like for a college guy doing his best to keep everyone happy while struggling to figure out who he is and what he really wants. There were a few little twists in the story that I didn't expect. I wasn't sure how the story would turn out, or even how I wanted it to turn out, until the very end. I enjoyed watching Jordan's character grow from his experiences that ranged from stupid mistakes to a tragic accident.
The writing is clean and held my attention. I've never been to Hawaii, and now I'm curious about some of the places the characters visit, as well as the food. I think they should have added the recipes for pani popo and malasadas at the end of the book, though I'll pass on the opihi.
January 19, 2011
I started reading Donald J. Carey’s Bumpy Landings on a January morning when it was 4 degrees outside. It only took a few pages before I was feeling the warm, tropical breeze from Carey’s story set in the friendly little Mormon community of Lai’e, Hawaii.
Jordan MacDonald is the type of protagonist anyone will identify with, but young people painfully caught between youth and adulthood will find him particularly compelling. As a recently returned missionary, he’s living at home with his widowed mother while attending classes at BYU-Hawaii and doing his darndest to get a girlfriend. He strikes out in his first attempt, and then catches a girl on the rebound who turns out to be far too much like his domineering mother. Meanwhile, he lives a double life, determined to fulfill a dream he shared with his deceased father of becoming a pilot, while trying to hide his flying lessons from his mother.
What makes this story come alive is the fascinating setting combined with Carey’s vivid characters. Everyone from the beautiful girls Jordan works with in the flower shop to the Polynesian students in his dorm are complete individuals with motivations and passions. Carey succeeds in creating a balmy little world and populating it with people we want to follow from chapter to chapter. Jordan is easy to root for because he makes the mistakes we’ve all made (or are afraid of making), and maintains his heart of gold. Humor and romance abound as Jordan learns to balance the many expectations placed on him and finds the value of his own expectations for himself. This is truly a heart-stretching novel that will leave you with a renewed love for life and a strong desire to book a flight to Honolulu.
Don Carey has a strong, transparent narrative voice that allows you to focus on Jordan’s journey without distraction. You’ll smell the tuberose, taste the malasadas, and feel the joy of flying over the islands in this fresh, funny, and romantic story.
Jordan MacDonald is the type of protagonist anyone will identify with, but young people painfully caught between youth and adulthood will find him particularly compelling. As a recently returned missionary, he’s living at home with his widowed mother while attending classes at BYU-Hawaii and doing his darndest to get a girlfriend. He strikes out in his first attempt, and then catches a girl on the rebound who turns out to be far too much like his domineering mother. Meanwhile, he lives a double life, determined to fulfill a dream he shared with his deceased father of becoming a pilot, while trying to hide his flying lessons from his mother.
What makes this story come alive is the fascinating setting combined with Carey’s vivid characters. Everyone from the beautiful girls Jordan works with in the flower shop to the Polynesian students in his dorm are complete individuals with motivations and passions. Carey succeeds in creating a balmy little world and populating it with people we want to follow from chapter to chapter. Jordan is easy to root for because he makes the mistakes we’ve all made (or are afraid of making), and maintains his heart of gold. Humor and romance abound as Jordan learns to balance the many expectations placed on him and finds the value of his own expectations for himself. This is truly a heart-stretching novel that will leave you with a renewed love for life and a strong desire to book a flight to Honolulu.
Don Carey has a strong, transparent narrative voice that allows you to focus on Jordan’s journey without distraction. You’ll smell the tuberose, taste the malasadas, and feel the joy of flying over the islands in this fresh, funny, and romantic story.
February 27, 2011
I'm so impressed with how naturally Don has created this story. The characters feel amazingly real. The plot flows. The conflict is real. I'm tempted to ask if the author himself experienced these trials!
Okay, thanks for your patience! Here is my review!!!
What a delightful read!
LDS returned missionary Jordan MacDonald has a secret. A secret he refuses to share with his mother, who has life figured out for him. It is one that he has promised his father he'd fulfill no matter the cost.
But when it becomes apparent that he can hide it no longer, life unravels and he is thrust into the cold of resentment.
Should he be true to his mother, or his girlfriend, or himself? This is a story about a young man's struggles to find the answers to his personal riddle of integrity.
I fell in love with the storyline and understand, with all of my heart, Jordan's struggles. Life as a young person is never easy, especially when everyone is shouting out how you should live it.
I especially love when Jordan starts to realize that his life is his own, and becomes true to the most important person: himself. For, how can he be true to anyone else if not for him?
This story certainly wrenched me from my mundane tasks, and whisked me into the lush green of Hawaii's vista.
Don J Carey is masterful at bringing people, places and things to life. There wasn't a place where it felt unreal. The dialogue was natural, the characters sincere, the dilemmas unfurled with genuine believability! He has a knack with folding time without my noticing.
Hey, Carey, do you have the recipes for pani popo or malasadas on your website? I would sure love to know how to make them!
UPDATE! click here for recipes! (Thanks, Don!)
Okay, thanks for your patience! Here is my review!!!
What a delightful read!
LDS returned missionary Jordan MacDonald has a secret. A secret he refuses to share with his mother, who has life figured out for him. It is one that he has promised his father he'd fulfill no matter the cost.
But when it becomes apparent that he can hide it no longer, life unravels and he is thrust into the cold of resentment.
Should he be true to his mother, or his girlfriend, or himself? This is a story about a young man's struggles to find the answers to his personal riddle of integrity.
I fell in love with the storyline and understand, with all of my heart, Jordan's struggles. Life as a young person is never easy, especially when everyone is shouting out how you should live it.
I especially love when Jordan starts to realize that his life is his own, and becomes true to the most important person: himself. For, how can he be true to anyone else if not for him?
This story certainly wrenched me from my mundane tasks, and whisked me into the lush green of Hawaii's vista.
Don J Carey is masterful at bringing people, places and things to life. There wasn't a place where it felt unreal. The dialogue was natural, the characters sincere, the dilemmas unfurled with genuine believability! He has a knack with folding time without my noticing.
Hey, Carey, do you have the recipes for pani popo or malasadas on your website? I would sure love to know how to make them!
UPDATE! click here for recipes! (Thanks, Don!)
February 26, 2011
Jordan MacDonald has a lot on his plate as he is trying to figure out who he is and what life has in store for him. He's got to figure out how to set new boundaries in his relationship with his mom, react to growing up (wanting to find something he's good at and going to college), deal with old acquaintances as he's trying to reestablish himself, interact with new friends (and girls he's attracted to!) and get more involved (and find more success) in the dating world. How does one person handle all of this?
My favorite part about this book was that I felt each character was very well developed. From the main character to the smaller roles, I was impressed with Careys attention to depth and detail. I thought it gave the story a lot of weight that the side characters didn't just pop in once to add a little tension to the scene but rather all the characters were full of personality and played a good role all throughout the story.
I enjoyed that this book was written from a male point of view. As a female who has a female brain (*insert obvious statement here*) it's not often I get a glimpse inside a mans thoughts. It was interesting to see how Jordan internalized the situations he was faced with.
Who doesn't like to read about a far-away, beautiful place like Hawaii? And since I've actually had the chance to visit it was neat to be able to place a few scenes. A handful of scenes in Bumpy Landings take place in small planes, and I'll tell you, having had the opportunity to fly in one I think Carey helped the reader have an idea of what it would feel like.
My favorite part about this book was that I felt each character was very well developed. From the main character to the smaller roles, I was impressed with Careys attention to depth and detail. I thought it gave the story a lot of weight that the side characters didn't just pop in once to add a little tension to the scene but rather all the characters were full of personality and played a good role all throughout the story.
I enjoyed that this book was written from a male point of view. As a female who has a female brain (*insert obvious statement here*) it's not often I get a glimpse inside a mans thoughts. It was interesting to see how Jordan internalized the situations he was faced with.
Who doesn't like to read about a far-away, beautiful place like Hawaii? And since I've actually had the chance to visit it was neat to be able to place a few scenes. A handful of scenes in Bumpy Landings take place in small planes, and I'll tell you, having had the opportunity to fly in one I think Carey helped the reader have an idea of what it would feel like.
January 21, 2011
See our teaser here http://nblo.gs/cR11b
At 21 years old Jordan McDonald has decided he's ready to be an adult and take on his dreams. Never mind the fact that he still lives at home with an overbearing mother who is out to control him every step of the way. Or the fact that he's painfully stuck in socially awkward situations. He dreams of completing his pilot's license, his deceased father's wish for him. But he's experiencing turbulence while navigating the paths of his life.
Set in Lai'e, Hawaii , Bumpy Landings will sweep you away with the smell of tropical flowers, Polynesian culture and mouth watering foods. Donald Carey takes you through the setting with the ease of a native. I found the book to be a wonderful break from the winter we're having on the main land.
Bumpy Landings is a coming of age tale with just a dash of romance. The themes are ones all of us stuck between youth and adulthood experience: staying financially afloat, discovering independence, and following one's heart. Bumpy Landings is an island gem, complete with lots of laugh out loud moments. And it's a squeaky clean read I would recommend for all. Thanks to Donald Carey for leading me to greener pastures.
Fire and Ice is honored to be a part of the Blog Tour. Be sure to swing by Donald's blog at http://donaldjcarey.com/ to see his own photos of Hawaii and a schedule of all the other stops
At 21 years old Jordan McDonald has decided he's ready to be an adult and take on his dreams. Never mind the fact that he still lives at home with an overbearing mother who is out to control him every step of the way. Or the fact that he's painfully stuck in socially awkward situations. He dreams of completing his pilot's license, his deceased father's wish for him. But he's experiencing turbulence while navigating the paths of his life.
Set in Lai'e, Hawaii , Bumpy Landings will sweep you away with the smell of tropical flowers, Polynesian culture and mouth watering foods. Donald Carey takes you through the setting with the ease of a native. I found the book to be a wonderful break from the winter we're having on the main land.
Bumpy Landings is a coming of age tale with just a dash of romance. The themes are ones all of us stuck between youth and adulthood experience: staying financially afloat, discovering independence, and following one's heart. Bumpy Landings is an island gem, complete with lots of laugh out loud moments. And it's a squeaky clean read I would recommend for all. Thanks to Donald Carey for leading me to greener pastures.
Fire and Ice is honored to be a part of the Blog Tour. Be sure to swing by Donald's blog at http://donaldjcarey.com/ to see his own photos of Hawaii and a schedule of all the other stops
January 26, 2011
My favorite part about this romance: It's from a male's POV. But at the same time, I could totally relate because it's a guy who seems to always fumble his encounters with the opposite sex.
Set in Hawaii, there couldn't be a better time of year to read this book. I could almost feel the tropical sunshine and smell the ocean breezes. Ah, refreshing. And Jordan, the MC, is going through a growth spurt: breaking away from Mom's tyrannical reign, learning you can kiss a girl and really like her but not LOVE her, and finally getting his wings. (Literally. He's a pilot.)
Honestly, like all guys, there were times when he frustrated me, especially where Mom is concerned. I wanted to scream at him, "Stand up for yourself! Get a backbone! Throw the kitchen sink at her!" That was the only disappointing thing, I didn't really get to see a stand-off between him and Mom, and I really wanted to. But he did go against her wishes and follow his heart in the end.
This is a fun book that took me only a few hours to read. And I was updating my husband as I read, who kept saying, "Hurry and finish the book so I can know the ending."
Set in Hawaii, there couldn't be a better time of year to read this book. I could almost feel the tropical sunshine and smell the ocean breezes. Ah, refreshing. And Jordan, the MC, is going through a growth spurt: breaking away from Mom's tyrannical reign, learning you can kiss a girl and really like her but not LOVE her, and finally getting his wings. (Literally. He's a pilot.)
Honestly, like all guys, there were times when he frustrated me, especially where Mom is concerned. I wanted to scream at him, "Stand up for yourself! Get a backbone! Throw the kitchen sink at her!" That was the only disappointing thing, I didn't really get to see a stand-off between him and Mom, and I really wanted to. But he did go against her wishes and follow his heart in the end.
This is a fun book that took me only a few hours to read. And I was updating my husband as I read, who kept saying, "Hurry and finish the book so I can know the ending."
June 27, 2011
I think the most unique thing about Bumpy Landings is that it's from a male point of view. Jordan is a recently returned missionary who is back home in Hawaii (who wouldn't love that?), looking to move on with his life--school, work, girlfriend, pilot's license--and finds himself along the way.
I thought the characters were great. Jordan's mother was so controlling! It drove me crazy that she would say jump and he'd ask how high. I thought it was crazy how he started to sneak around and lie to her, instead of just growing a backbone.
Heather...also very manipulative. She seemed to be the type of person who can't be alone--always has to have a boyfriend.
Jordan..he drove me crazy sometimes, always trying to please everyone. I thought it was funny how much he worried about a date and how eager he was to jump into a physical relationship. "Should I hold her hand? Should I kiss her?" And sometimes that boy just couldn't take a hint!!
Sometimes the dialogue seemed a bit awkward, but it was a fun story.
I thought the characters were great. Jordan's mother was so controlling! It drove me crazy that she would say jump and he'd ask how high. I thought it was crazy how he started to sneak around and lie to her, instead of just growing a backbone.
Heather...also very manipulative. She seemed to be the type of person who can't be alone--always has to have a boyfriend.
Jordan..he drove me crazy sometimes, always trying to please everyone. I thought it was funny how much he worried about a date and how eager he was to jump into a physical relationship. "Should I hold her hand? Should I kiss her?" And sometimes that boy just couldn't take a hint!!
Sometimes the dialogue seemed a bit awkward, but it was a fun story.
February 21, 2011
This story was a well written thought provoking story. I think the reason that I liked it so well was that I so identified with the main character. I liked that the main character dealt with real life problems and choices. I liked that the main character grew throughout the book and was able to see the things that could help him be a better person.
I love the descriptions that the author used to describe Hawaii and the sites that the character saw. I love that the character in the book hasn't lost his love for the state. I like that he didn't give up.
This book is worth the read because the main character is so identifiable. Jordan MacDonald starts out with so many things stacked against him, but eventually he learns what it means to be himself. The other thing that Jordan is able to do is stand up for himself.
The only thing that was tough about this read was how difficult Jordan's mother is. I have a hard time with this mother and really hope that people who have this type of mother learn from this book!
I love the descriptions that the author used to describe Hawaii and the sites that the character saw. I love that the character in the book hasn't lost his love for the state. I like that he didn't give up.
This book is worth the read because the main character is so identifiable. Jordan MacDonald starts out with so many things stacked against him, but eventually he learns what it means to be himself. The other thing that Jordan is able to do is stand up for himself.
The only thing that was tough about this read was how difficult Jordan's mother is. I have a hard time with this mother and really hope that people who have this type of mother learn from this book!
March 11, 2011
I've been a follower of Don's blog when he was in the non-published stage of writing. I was happy to learn that he got a book published. I decided to buy the book to support him because all first time authors need support.
Now to the review: It took a little bit for me to get into the story, but once I did get into it, I just wanted to keep reading.
There were a few characters that I could tell where suppose to feel a certain way, but I didn't really get why. But besides that, I enjoyed reading it.
His writing is different than a lot of what I'm use to in this genre. But I generally read books written by women. So it was a different style, but still good.
I know he has other novels in the works, and I think he has a great start as an author.
Now to the review: It took a little bit for me to get into the story, but once I did get into it, I just wanted to keep reading.
There were a few characters that I could tell where suppose to feel a certain way, but I didn't really get why. But besides that, I enjoyed reading it.
His writing is different than a lot of what I'm use to in this genre. But I generally read books written by women. So it was a different style, but still good.
I know he has other novels in the works, and I think he has a great start as an author.
January 18, 2011
I really enjoyed Bumpy Landings. I loved the setting - hey, who doesn't want to go to Hawaii? It's the perfect break from all this winter snow!
This isn't what I would really call a romance book, but an interesting story of a college aged man who is trying to find his path in life - what he stands for, who he can trust, and also how to recognize love and be brave enough to overcome his natural shyness to share his feelings.
Don Carey weaves an interesting story, one that's definitely worthy of putting on your to-read VERY soon list.
This isn't what I would really call a romance book, but an interesting story of a college aged man who is trying to find his path in life - what he stands for, who he can trust, and also how to recognize love and be brave enough to overcome his natural shyness to share his feelings.
Don Carey weaves an interesting story, one that's definitely worthy of putting on your to-read VERY soon list.
August 13, 2012
I picked this book up at a book signing and I'm glad I did. It is a story of a Jordan a young man who had just got off his mission and is not who is was in high school but still trying to find himself with a bit more confidence than he had before. It is set in Hawaii where they moved when his mother and father divorced years ago. His mother is a bit overbearing I think. Jordan learns to fly, falls in love, gets rejected, accepted and through it all finds who he really is. It was a lighthearted sweet coming of age romance story.
March 30, 2011
I really liked this book. I had not read this author before so I was excited when I won this book through Goodreads First Reads. This was a fun, LDS romance story. It was definitely not predictable and had many twists and turns. It had an ending I really wasn't expecting and thoroughly enjoyed! The author reminds me of another fun romance author, Jack Weyland, which is a huge compliment! I look forward to more fun reads by Don Carey!
July 11, 2011
3.5 stars
Very enjoyable LDS fiction. Fun characters. And, unusual (for a romance kind of novel) in that it is told from the boy's point of view. Loved the Hawaii setting. I was so happy I had been there to know where most of those places were. It really took me back and made me wish I were there right now.
Very enjoyable LDS fiction. Fun characters. And, unusual (for a romance kind of novel) in that it is told from the boy's point of view. Loved the Hawaii setting. I was so happy I had been there to know where most of those places were. It really took me back and made me wish I were there right now.
January 3, 2013
I thought I would like a romance told from the man's point of view but the man in this story was spineless and a borderline stalker. His mom bossed him around and he found a girlfriend who bossed him around. The book is set in Oahu, Hawaii which is one of my favorite places and that was about all I liked about this book
June 12, 2013
Love BYUH/RM style. Interesting to see a guy's perspective on it all, I guess. I wished the storyline btw the main character and the oppressive haole girlfriend had been more subtle so the motorcycle incident could have drawn me in emotionally. It's a two-star book but I'm a Kahuku/BYUH alum, so one extra credit bonus star.
August 6, 2011
Jordan MacDonald is a really NICE guy, but he has his share of "bumpy landings" now he's back from his mission. Overcoming his shyness is tough, honesty and integrity even tougher, but he meets a really great girl and has two amazing sisters. The biggest "bump" in his landing is his mother.
February 1, 2011
I participated in a blog tour for Bumpy Landings. My post is here.
April 12, 2012
I really enjoyed this fun book. I loved the setting, and the characters really came to life for me.
February 17, 2011
Great story, with a fun twist, from the Male POV. There are many things to cheer for in this story.
Full review coming tomorrow on my blog. (2-17-11)
http://bit.ly/fEt4MW
Full review coming tomorrow on my blog. (2-17-11)
http://bit.ly/fEt4MW
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