Hearts in Flight

I just finished reading Hearts in Flight by Patty Smith Hall, and let me start by saying that I read this book WAY faster than anything I've read in the past few years. It was exciting from the start, and didn't disappoint in any aspect.

The setting is 1943 Georgia, in a small town, with a girl who's grown up flying planes. First for her father's crop-dusting business, and now as a member of the WASP - Women's Army Special Pilots. Maggie Daniels gets a job at a military plane-building plant, helping to inspect, work on, and transport aircraft. The thing is, no one thinks she has any business being there. Not her family, not the men in her squad, and especially not her commander, Wesley Hicks. But she's determined to follow her dream, and prove to everyone that she can do anything a guy can.

But it's no smooth sailing. Wesley's got a secret from his past that affects how he feels about woman pilots, Maggie's uncle will do anything he can to get back the house he thinks is rightfully his - the house where Maggie and other plant workers have been renting rooms from her aunt, and someone's leaving threatening notes aimed at the WASPs.

With plenty of action, humor, danger, and romance, you will LOVE Patty Smith Hall's first fiction novel.


For more high-flying adventures, check out The High Calling and A Time of War, both by Gilbert Morris.

A Vote Of Confidence

The latest book I read was A Vote of Confidence by Robin Lee Hatcher, the first book in the Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series. It's set in 1915 Idaho, where women have recently "gotten the vote", but some men and even some women don't believe that women should take on roles of leadership. The main character, Gwen Arlington, decides to run for mayor of her small town. This, of course, is going to upset some people! Meanwhile, Morgan McKinley is trying to build his New Hope Health Resort and Spa a few miles outside of town, but he's getting a lot of opposition from the town's leadership. So he decides that if he wants to get anything done soon, he's going to have to run for mayor himself.

So you have three people running for mayor - one, the current mayor, who is a known drunkard, at a time when Idaho is trying to pass prohibition laws; the second, a wealthy man who is new to this small town, and so has not gained the trust of the people; and the third, a woman, in a time when a female mayor was literally unheard of!

This book is exciting, funny, and charming. I loved the story, the characters, and the setting, and I definitely recommend you read it! I am looking forward to reading the next two books in the series, Fit to Be Tied and A Matter of Character.

You can check out Mrs. Hatcher's website here.

Food For Thought

If an iron mine is depleting,

would it be considered anemic?

Death Star

Recently I finished reading Death Star by Michael Reaves and Steve Perry. Unless you're really into Star Wars, you probably won't be that interested in reading it. I'm not saying it wasn't good! On the contrary, I really enjoyed it. But it was rather slow-moving until the last fifteen chapters or so.

If you are a Star Wars fanatic, you'll be surprised at just how much there is to learn about the happenings of the pre-Episode IV Death Star project. While not especially action-filled, there is plenty of suspense, drama, and even humor to keep the story going. And, while I certainly don't side with Darth Vader, I now understand his point of view much better. This book explains a lot of what the movies do not.

There are many more characters than just Vader, Tarkin, and Leia, and it's exciting to see how the lives of all the characters from vastly different backgrounds will mix, forming relationships both odd and endearing, and working together to create, or destroy, the most dangerous weapon in the galaxy. Who survives? You'll just have to read and find out.

Promise Me You'll Always Remember

"Promise me you'll always remember: you're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

- Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh

A Soldier's Silent Night

As spoken by Ted Berndt

 Twas the night before Christmas; he lived all alone
in a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney with presents to give,
and to see just who in this dwelling did live.

I looked all around, a strange sight to see -
no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stockings on the mantle, just boots filled with sand.

On the wall hung pictures of far distant lands,
medals and badges, awards of every kind.

A sobering thought came alive in my mind -
this house was different. It was dark, it was dreary.

I had found the home of a soldier. I could see that most clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping - silent, alone,
curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.

His face was so gentle, the room in such disorder.
Not at all how I pictured a United States soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I'd just read,
curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?

Then I realized the other families that I saw this night
owe their lives to soldiers who are willing to fight.

In the morning, around the world, children would play,
grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day.

They all enjoy freedom each month of the year
because of soldiers like the one lying here.

I couldn't help but wonder how many lay alone
on this cold Christmas Eve in lands far from home.

The very thought brought a tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.

The soldier awakened and I heard his rough voice,
"Santa don't cry, this life is my choice.
I fight for freedom. I don't ask for more.
My life is my God, my country, my corps."

The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep,
but I couldn't control it and I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours, so silent and still,
as both of us shivered from the cold night's chill.

I didn't want to leave him on that cold, dark night -
this guardian of honor, so willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure whispered
"Carry on Santa, it's Christmas day, all is secure."

One look at my watch and I knew he was right.
"Merry Christmas my friend. May God bless you this night."

All Good Things...

My most recent read was Star Trek: The Next Generation: All Good Things... (must come to an end). It is the novelization of the last episode of Star Trek TNG, and I LOVED IT!! If you are into Star Trek, then I definitely recommend this book to you. If you are not into Star Trek, I still recommend this book. It's certainly better if you already know the characters and the back story, but I think you will still enjoy it even if you've never seen the show.

It's a trip back and forth between three different time periods in Captain Picard's life, as he tries to figure out how to save all of humanity, while Q, his nemesis, taunts and torments him. Old characters make a comeback, and regular characters become old, and young. It's a little confusing, and very exciting, with humor and suspense mixed in. Plus plenty of high-tech, futuristic gadgets and science to satisfy any sci-fi fan.