Her beauty once opened doors, but the felony conviction slams them shut. Harper Cloud used to love the gilded glamour of Las Vegas, but on the far side of prison, she sees the cracks in the veneer. These days, she keeps her head down and focuses on the elderly patients in her care. Even her new wealthy east-coast boyfriend, Derrick, can’t entice her away. She’s trusted men before, and look where … trusted men before, and look where that got her.
She tries to brush off the feeling that she’s being watched. But when she’s followed home one night and her pursuer gets within a hair’s breadth of grabbing her, she knows it’s time to get away from Las Vegas.
Maybe Derrick can be trusted. Maybe his job offer—to care for his aging grandfather in Maryland—will be the second chance she needs.
But Derrick has secrets of his own, secrets that could take him down–and take Harper with him.
Can there be a second chance for someone like her?
Buy Beauty in Flight today, Book 1 in a 3-book-series that’ll keep you guessing until the very end.
If you like the Beauty in Flight series, you might also like the Hidden Truth series, the first stories that take place in Nutfield, New Hampshire, and the Amanda series.
THE HIDDEN TRUTH SERIES:
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Convenient Lies
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Twisted Lies
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Generous Lies
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Innocent Lies
THE AMANDA SERIES
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Chasing Amanda
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Finding Amanda
more
*4.5 stars
I was very quickly sucked into this book and couldn’t put it down until I was finished. I read the Kindle version, but according to Goodreads the paperback has 201 pages. So it’s a shorter book and one I would consider easy to devour in one sitting.
While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I would have liked to see a little more depth added to both Harper’s background story as well as some of the emotions and temptations she was faced with. I would have liked to see more about what her life was like both before and after prison in terms of her attitude towards sin and when she started to hunger to know more about God. Did those feelings start before prison or when the Christian counselors started to talk to her? Even if there wasn’t a distinct moment, I would have liked to read a bit more into her mindset as it changed from her past.
There was one quote that I really found interesting. Derrick was trying to manipulate Harper to get what he wanted and she was reminded of something she’d been told while in prison:
“She flashed back to those sweet counselors who’d visited the prison. They’d taught her that her biggest addiction wasn’t substances, but people.”
Although the story doesn’t go into very much detail about her past, It is mentioned that partying and drugs was a part of it. Even though her time with the counselors didn’t lead to Harper putting her complete faith in God, they were at least able to plant seeds that started to sprout and grow in her heart after she left. There were also other Christians she encountered on her path who could help lead her in the right direction as well. The words that were shared with her placed convictions in her heart and helped her recognize when she was being manipulated. I admire how the author fleshed out the changes in her heart. There wasn’t and “ah-HAH!” moment where it all clicked, but she also wasn’t fully opposed to God. Instead, she was “curious” and “hungry” to know more. She noticed that she felt changes in her attitude but she wasn’t quite sure where they came from. As a believer I see it as God softening and tugging at her heart. I could also see it as an interesting concept to tug at the hearts of unbelievers as well.
Beauty in Flight is the first in a new series. I have the next two books and plan on reading them next. I’m sincerely curious to know where the author goes with this series. This one ends with a cliffhanger strong enough to demand you pick up the next book immediately. I’ll be sharing my thoughts on the next one soon!
*I received a copy of this book through JustRead Tours. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
Wow! This one you won’t stop until you’ve finished and then you will immediately want the next book in the series! Harper is a young lady that has seen the unfortunate side of life. As a convicted felon with time served, finding a job to love is difficult. A private nurse to a wonderful old gentleman seems just perfect…..or is it? Stalking, assault, gambling and even murder find their way into this quiet world. What to do now, but get the second book in the series to find out!
I received this copy through CelebrateLit. All impressions and opinions are my own.
Wow. What a fascinating suspense novel! This is the first book I’ve read by Robin Patchen and I’ll definitely be reading more books by this author in the near future. This book is book 1 in the Beauty in Flight series and the series should be read in order. This book ends in such a cliffhanger that I’m itching to start reading the second book even as I’m writing this review.
The plot is easy to follow and the main character Harper is endearing though flawed in so many ways. The major theme of God’s unconditional love and forgiveness shines brightly in Harper’s life as she tries her best to create a new life and beginning for herself after prison time and doing menial jobs just to get by. But she gets sucked into the world of gambling and money-hungry people purely by association and suddenly she’s being chased and injured.
If you enjoy a well-written, high-tension suspense novel, you will love this book. I received a copy of the book via JustRead Publicity Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
The first book in Robin Patchen’s Beauty in Flight series (with the same title) is a quick read due to its short length and could actually be considered a novella. The book introduces Harper Cloud, a young woman who has attempted to rebuild her life after a stint in prison. Loving her work with the elderly, she tries to ignore the feelings that she is being watched but a close call convinces her to accept a job taking care of her new boyfriend’s grandfather in Maryland. Is a second chance really possible for Harper or will her past catch up with her?
Overall I thought Beauty in Flight was a good read with enough suspense to keep it interesting. The characters were realistic and relatable. The author managed to drop a few clues along the way which left me with some doubts about one particular character. Some readers have complained that there was not enough Christian content but as this is a series, I anticipate that readers will see that particular topic expand in later installments.
I was able to read the entire series in order during a short span of time so the fact that I was left hanging at the end of this installment was not as frustrating as it might have been if I was forced to wait on the next book in the series. My advice would be to read all three books one after the other if possible. In my opinion, the three books could easily have been published as one.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Just Read Tours. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
“All she knew was that she didn’t know anything.”
Harper Cloud’s post-prison life is full of new perspective. It was painful to learn that beauty on the outside often attracts the wrong kind of friends, in particular, the wrong kind of men. Her hopes and dreams have become simple again, except for Derrick Burns’ insistence that their long distance relationship become a short distance one, with no strings attached. When has that every worked for Harper?
Glad to leave Las Vegas behind and the eerie feeling that she is being stalked, Harper travels to Maryland to become a caregiver for Derrick’s aging grandfather. But it’s not going to be the last trip that Harper takes; trouble knows no distance.
In some ways, the story seemed over-simplified, but it catches up in the end! A real cliff-hanger!
I’ve seen and heard Robin Patchen’s name for a few years now, but this is the first book written by her I’ve read. Let me tell you, it won’t be my last (and not just because of the cliffhanger ending).
As readers follow Harper Cloud from Las Vegas to Maryland, Patchen draws us into the comfort Harper finds as a private nurse while slowly drawing us into the mystery of exactly what is going on with Derek.
Beauty in Flight is an excellent introduction to Harper as we get a sense of her guilt and remorse for her past decisions, her determination to move forward and live a better life than she was before, and her compassion in helping others.
The slow build of suspense kept me involved in this story, and I was not ready for it to end, which makes the fact there are two more books starring Harper Cloud the best kind of news.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
I really loved this book! This is the first book in the Beauty series and it was edge of your seat suspenseful. I really love the way that Robin Patchen writes a book, the words flow out like honey on the page. I had a hard time putting the book down so that I could go to bed! This was a clean and christian read which I so appreciate.
Wow!!!
I read “Beauty in Flight” in just over a day. A quick read, not only because it’s relatively short in length, but also because it flowed so quickly (and I just had to find out what happened). Patchen has a gift for creating relatable characters and drawing the reader into an all-too-lifelike setting.
Being a crime novel, that means it might not be the “most bestest” 😉 book to read at night. Especially as the end approached. And…the book totally ended on a cliffhanger. I’d definitely recommend having all 3 books at the ready so you can keep on reading; you won’t want to stop, that’s for sure!
Sooo good…and now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to find out what happens next.
I received a copy of the book from JustRead Publicity Tours. All opinions are my own.
Harper has a big heart and after trusting the wrong men in her life and landing in prison she is finally free. Or is she? She feels like she’s being watched and after a narrow escape, takes a chance on a new man in her life. But is Derrick the real deal? He brings her to the east coast to care for his elderly grandfather, Red. She quickly becomes attached to the old man, but finds out quickly that things aren’t as they seem and soon she has another decision to make. For her safety and Red’s she chooses to flee. Where will they go?
This is the first installment of the Beauty in Flight series and full of suspense. It’s well written and pulls you into the lives of the characters. The growing relationship between Harper and Red is sweet.
Robin has done it again and I can’t wait for the the next two books.
Harper Cloud is a convicted felon. She wanted to be an RN, but now that she is a felon, that is out of the question. Harper is dating Derrick from Maryland and she lives in Las Vegas. Harper is working in a nursing home and Derrick offers her a job taking care of his grandfather, Red. Derrick is a gambling addict and owes a lot of money to sharks. Harper gets attacked in a supermarket parking lot. She goes back and finds two dead bodies and Red standing over them. She takes Red and flees. This is a page turner and you have to read the sequel to find out the conclusion.
Whoa.
So I read this book in one day. ONE DAY. Says the slowest reader on the planet.
This is the first Robin Patchen book that I have read and it was GOOD. The pacing was amazing and I honestly didn’t really get bored reading it at all. Ms. Patchen knows how to keep a reader interested.
I think my one problem with it was the ending. First off, the ending was a MAJOR cliffhanger and I don’t have the second book, so there’s that. But I also felt that after all the building up to the end and that one incident (sorry, I don’t want any spoilers, so I’ll keep it at that), it just kinda dropped off. After the major adrenaline rush I had, it all calmed down which didn’t really seem to fit what had just happened.
Other than that, the book was amazing, the characters well developed, and wow, it just really drew me in and didn’t let me go until the very end.
And, for the record, I’ve never read a 29 chapter book in one day.
**I received a complementary of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts in this review are my own.**
Beauty in Flight by Robin Patchen is an interesting glance into a life of a woman who wants to escape the stereotype of her past. While the book is categorized as a mystery / suspense novel, I had a hard time with that because there really isn’t any suspense in the current novel. It might show up in the next two, but it wasn’t in this one. The heroine, Harper Cloud, felt someone was following her a couple of times, and she did almost mugged at the beginning, but really nothing came of it. I see the novel as a contemporary women’s fiction. The character is wonderfully written with a realistic distrust of circumstances in her life. I empathized with her, and I shook my head at her for some of her actions, but overall, she was a strong woman determined to shake her past. I believe fans of Karen Kingsbury and Catherine West might enjoy this novel.
I received a complimentary copy of Beauty in Flight by Robin Patchen through the JustRead Tours, but the opinions stated are all my own.
I couldn’t put this suspense novel down. Lots of action that doesn’t quit. It is the first of 3 & looking forward to the other 2 when they come out.
Looking forward to the next one.
Even though I had already finished one good book on the day I started this, I was so engrossed I had to read to the end. To my astonishment, when I reached the last page, there WAS no end! After reading what the author added at the end, I understood and forgave. So don’t be afraid of another cliff-hanger… just hang on for the next installment; it’ll be worth it, I’m sure! And I am eager to return to Nutfield where some marvelous stories took place that are still strong in my memories. Hurry up with those next two additions to the series, Robin Patchen!
About a year or so ago, I noticed an advertisement for a book by Robin Patchen. I had not heard of this author previously but her novel sounded so intriguing. I ended up reading the whole series.
Beauty in Flight is the first in author Robin Patchen’s new series, Beauty in Flight. I love this newest release and am beyond excited that the second in the series will be released just a couple months from now in March.
Harper Cloud has a history of choosing the wrong man, men who have led her into a life in the underbelly of Las Vegas. After a short stint in prison for a crime that was not her fault, Harper determines to clean up, make better choices and finish college. Wealthy Derrick is charismatic and handsome, seemingly just the kind of man Harper could commit to, if she trusted herself.
When Harper becomes aware of the eerie feeling that someone seems to be watching her, she becomes more and more anxious. After someone grabs her in the dark of night, she decides to uproot her life to move to Maryland to care for Derrick’s aging grandfather. For a short while Harper feels safe again but then the feeling of being watched returns only this time it comes with footsteps.
I’m so glad I came upon author Robin Patchen and her stories. I really enjoy her well written novels and I think you will too.
Robin Patchen gives us another novel of first rate suspense filled with lots of twists and turns.
The storyline is intriguing as Harper, an LPN races to determine who is trying to kill her patient and herself.
This book needs to be read as part of a series because of the cliff hanger ending.
This book is recommended for those who love Christian suspense.
This story was not what I expected, but it kept me riveted all the way to the end. I grew very attached to Harper and Red, and I can’t wait to see what happens to them!
Beauty in Flight by Robin Patchen
Beauty in Flight Series Book One
Harper Cloud is loving her freedom. She’s found that things aren’t important in life, not when you were free. No more prison bars. No parole officer. Only… the feeling of being watched. But she put that to paranoia.
When she decides a change from Vegas is needed…away from the memories of the past…she heads to Maryland for a job taking care of an elderly man. Life seems to be going really well for her…and that never boded well.
This story is told from Harper’s point of view only and I’ll warn you, it ends with a cliffhanger. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
https://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/2015/05/robin-patchen-book-list.html
This was a great book. I picked it up not really knowing what to expect. I couldn’t put it down. I loved walking with Harper in her life as she pressed on trying to leave her past behind. I liked that she learned from her past and was able to help others when she saw them in a similar situation. The relationships that Harper has with her boyfriend and her boyfriend’s grandfather were great. I loved seeing how she responded to both relationships. My only problem was the cliffhanger at the end, I can’t wait for the next book to come out to find out how things work out. I recommend this book to those that enjoy suspense and making a new life for yourself. I received a copy of this book. This is my honest and voluntary review.