Lisbeth Douglas works as a pilot, mechanic and flight instructor. As a Lady Flyer in the 1930’s, she works in a male-dominated profession. Fearful of ridicule she keeps her dream of becoming a test pilot a secret. A cocky airplane salesman arrives in Saplingville and sets up shop at the airport. He steals her heart but will never take possession of her dreams.Paul Williams is more comfortable … designing airplanes than flying them. To please his father, he takes a job as an airplane salesman. His boss sends him to the deep-south where he meets a ravishing, daredevil of a woman. His heart takes a nosedive at the first sight of her. How can he give up his controlling ways and let her soar?
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To say I’m a fan of romance novels that takes place in the 1939 era would not be true. However if I tell you Jane Lewis creates a world where you feel as if you are there, you can take it to the bank. She pulled me in and kept me turning the pages. Lizbeth Rose Douglas is a fantastic character. She’s not just the heroine of The Lady Flyer, but someone if she was a real person, I would love to know. To be so confident in her abilities that she will not allow anyone even the man she is falling in love with to take away her dream is remarkable in that time frame. I’m not certain women today could do that with the grace and determination that Lizbeth did as the heroine. Her family is the heart of the South back in the day. I could feel the humidity in the air, smell the barbeque cooking, and would love to have a bite of the potato salad Mrs. Douglas made for Sunday dinner after church. Paul Williams our hero is as different as a peacock to a duck when it comes to being a Southerner. His attitude made me like him as he tried to ignore monstrous mosquitos, humid weather, and everyone in the small town of Saplingville, Georgia knowing all his business. His condescending manner when he first met Lizbeth as she worked at her brother’s aviation company and airport should have earned him a slap, but in her own way Lizbeth ignore him until his cheeky smile, and the endearing way he called her Lizbeth Rose made her knees tremble and her heart pound like the engine of a Beechcraft Model plane. As they both walk down the uneven path of love, you can’t help but admire the fire in Lizbeth’s eyes, the twinkle in Paul’s and the supporting cast of relatives who will always go the extra mile for those they love. But as in some cases being in love could be a barrier to the dreams both Lizbeth and Paul hold in their hearts. If you have not read any of Jane Lewis’ novels, you are missing out on a superb author with a flawless way of showing us life in the past.
From the moment Lisbeth meets Paul Williams, she dislikes his arrogance and of course, his criticism of her performance. Sure, she’s one of the few American female pilots and airplane mechanics but flying is her one true love. It’s all she’s ever wanted to do. She assumes Paul is like a lot of men she’s met but the more she gets to know him, she discovers he’s not just a controlling jerk. Her mama tries to marry her off to Paul, but Lisbeth has dreams of her own. She wants to break the gender barrier and become a test pilot. She might get her chance if she can win the flying competition. When she finds out Paul has entered as well, she’ll have to put their relationship to the test. Will she sacrifice her dream for Paul’s love or will she go after her dream, even if it means losing him forever?
The Lady Flyer is a historical romance unlike any I’ve read before. A free-spirited heroine and a rugged hero, both lovers of aviation, propel the plot. It’s easy to see how alike Paul and Lisbeth are yet both too stubborn to admit it. I connected with Lisbeth right away. Every thought, rejection, and emotion she feels, the reader experiences as well. As a woman, I love reading a gender-bending independent heroine willing to risk it all to make her dream a reality. The heartfelt romance between her and Paul is such a joy to read. Historically accurate, The Lady Flyer whisked me away. Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I’d review it.
My Rating: 5+ stars
romance, family, friendship, historical-novel, small-business, small-town
A lovely romance set in time just before WW2 highlighting the difficulties faced by women pilots. The characters are very well done and the plot is smooth.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from The Wild Rose Press via NetGalley.
I read this book in one sitting! Set in 1939 I didn’t know if The Lady Flyer would be to my liking. I Loved It! Lisbeth was going for it before Women’s Lib was even a phrase. I love the slow-simmering romance between Lisbeth and Paul and Jane’s descriptions of small-town life and it’s people. The family dynamic was a supportive one and the air race was awesome! This was the third book in the series…I’m going back for the first two!