A Flying Affair

GIVEAWAY

STEWART, CARLA
A FLYING AFFAIR

Ever since Mittie Humphreys agreed to join dashing brainstorming pilot Ames for a joyride in his airplane, her lifelong love of horses has been surpassed by one thing -- a longing for the skies. It seems she's not the only one. With Charles Lindbergh making his victory tour in the Spirit of St. Louis, aviation fever is spreading across the country. Mittie knows flying is the perfect focus for the soaring ambition and taste for adventure within her, and whenever she can slip away from her duties on her family's prosperous Kentucky horse farm, she heads to the airfield.

Considering their shared passion, it's no surprise that Ames begins to vie for Mittie's time. But when handsome British aviator Bobby York offers her flying lessons, he is equally surprised -- and beguiled -- by Mittie's grit and talent. Drvien to succeed, Mittie will do whatever it takes to compete in the Women's National Air Derby alongside Amelia Earhart. But when Calista 'Peach' Gilson, a charming Southern belle, becomes her rival both professionally and in love, Mittie must learn how to navigate her heart's romantic longings as well as the skies.

My Review:

What an exciting read! It's the late nineteen twenties and the world is all agog over aviation -- Lindbergh, Earhart, pioneering women who are beginning to break out of the conventional mold society has placed them in for centuries. And Mittie is just such a woman. Indulged by her father, she's the despair of her mother. A determined heroine with a mind of her own. And there's the problem. For all her adventurous spirit, there's a certain naivete about her and she learns some hard lessons in her quest to follow her dreams.

I don't want to say too much about the romance since there are two men vying for Mittie's attention. Suffice to say I had a clear favourite and  there was more than one occasion when I wanted to shake some sense into her. :-)

A tight plot with plenty of twists and turns and some hair-raising aerial scenes kept my nose buried in the book even though I had plenty of other things that needed doing. I do so love getting lost in a good story! You might say I spent most of the day with my head in the clouds right along with Mittie.

A captivating and exhilarating read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  A Flying Affair please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday November 22 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The Hatmaker's Heart

GIVEAWAY

STEWART, CARLA
THE HATMAKER'S HEART

For Nell Marchwold, bliss is seeing the transformation when someone gets a glimpse in the mirror while wearing one of her creations and feels beautiful. Nell has always strived to create hats that bring out a woman's best qualities. She knows she's fortunate to have landed a job as an apprentice designer at the prominent Oscar Fields Millinery in New York City. Yet when Nell's fresh designs begin to catch on, her boss holds her back from the limelight, claiming the stutter she's had since childhood reflects poorly on her and his salon.

 

But it seems Nell's gift won't be hidden by Oscar's efforts. Soon an up-and-coming fashion designer is seeking her out as a partner of his 1922 collection. The publicity leads to an opportunity for Nell to make hats in London for a royal wedding. There, she sees her childhood friend, Quentin, and an unexpected spark kindles between them. But thanks to her success, Oscar is determined to keep her. As her heart tugs in two directions, Nell must decide what she is willing to sacrifice for her dream, and what her dream truly is.

 

My Review:

 

An intriguing look at life in the high fashion industry during the roaring twenties. I found the historical details in this book completely fascinating. Makes for a great backdrop to plop poor, innocent Nell into the middle of.

 

She  is a complicated character. A small town girl with more than one tragedy in her past who takes on the cut-throat business of haute couture in New York City. I loved Nell the second I 'met' her. Sweet and conflicted, she's chasing a dream that almost swallows her whole. Her struggles to find herself by confronting her past makes for an inspirational read. 

 

Great secondary characters -- both friend and foe -- bring added dimension to a captivating read.

 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Hatmaker's Heart please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday July 6 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

My thanks to the publisher and Litfuse Publicity Group for supplying me with a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.