vicki_williams's review against another edition
4.0
What a little gem. A sweet, romantic book with two wonderful characters Lyall and Nick. They are both so likeable that it makes easy to connect with them. A well written book with an interesting plot line that kept me engaged. A lot of fun, a bit of angst and a loving but at times interfering family made for an overall enjoyable, easy read.
joanna1905's review against another edition
2.0
A fine romance novel, nothing overly stella but nothing bad about it either. My only real criticism is that the length means the characters were a bit underdeveloped which is a shame because the premise of this book is really fantastic and I think it definitely could have been expanded on in a full novel.
However, this a good quick romance, while it probably won't be a re-read for me I do think it's a good romance book. Definitely better than a lot of romance books I've read, I think the whole pilot/flying phobia plot really leant itself to giving this book a lot of heart.
However, this a good quick romance, while it probably won't be a re-read for me I do think it's a good romance book. Definitely better than a lot of romance books I've read, I think the whole pilot/flying phobia plot really leant itself to giving this book a lot of heart.
aligroen's review
3.0
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review An Alisa Review:
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Well huh, while I read the whole story and understood where the characters were coming from for the most part I am disappointed because I don’t feel happy for them in the end. Nick and Lyall are quickly attracted to each other though Lyall has to work through his fears and Nick needs to learn how to understand/accept them.
These two just seemed to have a push and pull relationship from the beginning, heck even the one sex scene felt like they were each fighting for control. While I understood Lyall’s fear I do feel that he didn’t handle it very well at times and would lash out and as Nick was being sooo understanding he quickly flipped the switch of how he felt about Lyall’s fear. And Lord was Nick’s dad a jerk, I had more trouble trying to figure out why he was even “trying” in the first place. In the end the story fell flat for me, I could tell when the author was intentionally tried to push more conflict into the story and it felt forced and didn’t flow all that well to me.
The cover art is nice but I don’t feel it has much connection to the story.
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Well huh, while I read the whole story and understood where the characters were coming from for the most part I am disappointed because I don’t feel happy for them in the end. Nick and Lyall are quickly attracted to each other though Lyall has to work through his fears and Nick needs to learn how to understand/accept them.
These two just seemed to have a push and pull relationship from the beginning, heck even the one sex scene felt like they were each fighting for control. While I understood Lyall’s fear I do feel that he didn’t handle it very well at times and would lash out and as Nick was being sooo understanding he quickly flipped the switch of how he felt about Lyall’s fear. And Lord was Nick’s dad a jerk, I had more trouble trying to figure out why he was even “trying” in the first place. In the end the story fell flat for me, I could tell when the author was intentionally tried to push more conflict into the story and it felt forced and didn’t flow all that well to me.
The cover art is nice but I don’t feel it has much connection to the story.
vicki_williams's review
4.0
What a little gem. A sweet, romantic book with two wonderful characters Lyall and Nick. They are both so likeable that it makes easy to connect with them. A well written book with an interesting plot line that kept me engaged. A lot of fun, a bit of angst and a loving but at times interfering family made for an overall enjoyable, easy read.
paddlefoot55's review
3.0
Copy received from Netgalley for an honest review
The blurb caught my interest as I was flicking through Netgalley one day.
I did like the difference in their family dynamics and how they deal with them. They really are both so different, but I think that was what fired their attraction, even when they didn't want it to.
I liked the different ways they dealt with losses from the past, even when they are holding them back from their future.
I liked the way they brought out the best in each other, when they are at their worst.
I did enjoy Lyall and Nick's story, however I did feel everything was a bit rushed - though the start was a little slow, if that makes sense.
I know, I know, I am contradicting myself here. This book just had me all over the place with things.
I loved the Australian setting (yay, more Aussies for me to read), and this was my first Daniel De Lorne read. I will be going back to read more in the future.
The blurb caught my interest as I was flicking through Netgalley one day.
I did like the difference in their family dynamics and how they deal with them. They really are both so different, but I think that was what fired their attraction, even when they didn't want it to.
I liked the different ways they dealt with losses from the past, even when they are holding them back from their future.
I liked the way they brought out the best in each other, when they are at their worst.
I did enjoy Lyall and Nick's story, however I did feel everything was a bit rushed - though the start was a little slow, if that makes sense.
I know, I know, I am contradicting myself here. This book just had me all over the place with things.
I loved the Australian setting (yay, more Aussies for me to read), and this was my first Daniel De Lorne read. I will be going back to read more in the future.
charkinzie's review
4.0
The short blurb bit: Nick is a pilot traveling the world with an unusual and touching mission. Lyall is an electrician from a tightly knit over-protective family. The two men meet and are instantly attracted to one another. They are both struggling with loss in their past and as they grow closer, they wrestle with finding the right time to talk about the events in their lives that have made them who they are. They come face to face with the fact that the passion that rules Nick’s life is the one thing that Lyall is terrified of. How do you meet in the middle between the earth and the stars?
The descriptive bit: This was a lovely book. At its core, this novel is a gay romance. Nick and Lyall are instantly attracted to one another when they meet. The problem is that their lives have been affected by loss in ways that are going to become a huge hurdle that they have to overcome. The thing about a loss is that is can alter our perceptions of things and change our lives in ways we hadn’t ever expected. Nick lost his mother and has spent a huge part of his life completing the journeys his mother didn’t get to make. Lyall’s brother was killed in a horrifying plane crash. I’m sure you can see the problem that these two men have.
Lyall is terrified of flying; so terrified, in fact, that just finding out the Nick is a pilot is enough to make him retreat the very first time they meet. Fortunately, his attraction to Nick wins out and the two men begin a relationship.
My thoughts bit: I loved reading about the difference in the family dynamics and how it affected the way each of these men interacted with their partner. The loss of a family member changes the way we see everything and I found de Lorne’s depiction of this to be sensitive and on point. While Nick is finding that the traveling he’s been doing is solitary and lonely and he’s longing to include Lyall in the final trip. But Lyall’s fear of flying is so intense that the idea of having to get on a plane sends him spiraling out of control.
There are some misunderstandings, disagreements, and secret-keeping in the way of these two men getting together. The angst between them isn’t overdone, it’s realistic. The merging of two lives is never an easy thing, and de Lorne does a great job of writing about the uncomfortable family interactions and misinterpreted actions that come hand-in-hand with a new relationship.
The warnings bit: mentions of a horrific plane crash, mentions electrocution, the death of family members in past
The descriptive bit: This was a lovely book. At its core, this novel is a gay romance. Nick and Lyall are instantly attracted to one another when they meet. The problem is that their lives have been affected by loss in ways that are going to become a huge hurdle that they have to overcome. The thing about a loss is that is can alter our perceptions of things and change our lives in ways we hadn’t ever expected. Nick lost his mother and has spent a huge part of his life completing the journeys his mother didn’t get to make. Lyall’s brother was killed in a horrifying plane crash. I’m sure you can see the problem that these two men have.
Lyall is terrified of flying; so terrified, in fact, that just finding out the Nick is a pilot is enough to make him retreat the very first time they meet. Fortunately, his attraction to Nick wins out and the two men begin a relationship.
My thoughts bit: I loved reading about the difference in the family dynamics and how it affected the way each of these men interacted with their partner. The loss of a family member changes the way we see everything and I found de Lorne’s depiction of this to be sensitive and on point. While Nick is finding that the traveling he’s been doing is solitary and lonely and he’s longing to include Lyall in the final trip. But Lyall’s fear of flying is so intense that the idea of having to get on a plane sends him spiraling out of control.
There are some misunderstandings, disagreements, and secret-keeping in the way of these two men getting together. The angst between them isn’t overdone, it’s realistic. The merging of two lives is never an easy thing, and de Lorne does a great job of writing about the uncomfortable family interactions and misinterpreted actions that come hand-in-hand with a new relationship.
The warnings bit: mentions of a horrific plane crash, mentions electrocution, the death of family members in past
reader_fictions's review
2.0
The Author's Note made it sound like this was his first attempt at a fluffy romance, but good lord was this not remotely close to fluffy enough for me. Also, there was zero banter and zero chemistry between the leads, which I think would be the only way to pull off the hackneyed "pilot falls in love with a guy who is afraid to fly" storyline.
Picked this up on a whim and kinda regretted it tbh. Not terrible so two stars, but definitely not my thing.
Picked this up on a whim and kinda regretted it tbh. Not terrible so two stars, but definitely not my thing.
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