Okay life is chaotic, crazy and sometimes even scary. Carr
introduces us to a really eclectic group of characters in
BLUE SKIES. But it all works. Somehow she manages to take
this group and find a way for them to function as a rather
odd family. Written in 2004 it still resonates with
validity and power.
It's all about starting over and living up to your
potential -- not down to other expectations. Everyone
deserves a second chance, a new beginning every once in a
while and for Nikki, her children and a couple of friends
they were overdue. Life was getting complicated and not in
a good way.
Nikki's ex-husband dies suddenly and now her children will
be living with her full time -- something she always wanted
but wasn't in the cards. Her ex did quite a number on her
in too many ways to mention. When he died there was nothing
left for the children and so Nikki was going to have to be
really resourceful. Luckily she was a well qualified and
respected pilot and an amazing opportunity came at just the
right moment. Becoming chief pilot at a newly formed
airline wasn't something she had ever planned for but it
was a welcomed offer. Her entire family was so excited
about the new career and the move. Seems they were all
on board for a new life.
Lucky for Nikki she had a strong support group which was
essential for a full time working mother with a very
demanding job. Thing is her friends lives had also begun to
spiral out of control and starting over was definitely a
step in the right direction. Her friend Carlisle had to
recover from an abusive relationship with his lover. And
their friend Dixie needed to distance herself from what had
become a self deprecating series of disastrous affairs of
the heart. Well that was the problem -- to Dixie it was
about finding love -- to the married idiots that seduced her
it was about an entirely different part of the body.
Women making it in a primarily male dominated profession --
like commercial airline pilots -- face some huge problems
usually with regard to respect from their co-workers. Nikki
had personal experience with some really nasty, vindictive
men who probably saw this feisty woman as a threat in
several ways. At the new airline Nikki was dismayed to see
one particular pilot who didn't seem the right choice
for the position he was hired for. He was her superior and
there was no disguising his dislike for her and
unfortunately was quite vocal about it. That's where it
gets rather dicey. Women have to be real careful knowing
when to step over the line of power and exercise their
right to be heard. Nikki needed to use her female smarts
where a man could perhaps use his brawn.
That's when the fun begins in earnest -- watching Nikki gain
the confidence and guts to give as good as she got.
BLUE SKIES is a real eye opening look into the world of
aviation and Robyn Carr does it with her usual panache. The
book is written post 911 and references the events of that
time as it affected the airline industry for sure but it
was her inclusion of how lives were forever affected that
make BLUE SKIES heartwarming and relative.
From the New York Times bestselling author of the beloved
Virgin River series comes a story of three friends who could
seriously use a fresh start. A chance to shine. And maybe a
little romance-the kind that sticks.
Nikki Burgess survived a terrible marriage and a worse
divorce. She's just about given up hope of ever finding
happiness. But when her ex-husband suddenly dies, she gets
custody of her kids again-and a chance to start over.
Dixie McPherson, on the other hand, has had way too much
love. She has eleven tennis bracelets, dozens of trinkets,
piles of sexy lingerie and a tarnished reputation when all
she ever wanted was true love, a partner and a family.
Carlisle Bartlett is loyal, kindhearted and the funniest guy
slinging drinks in the back of an airplane. But he has an
ugly little secret. The only kind of love he's used to comes
with bruises.
When Nikki, Dixie and Carlisle are offered the chance to
join a new airline in Las Vegas, they don't hesitate. With
nothing to lose and everything to gain, these three friends
are going in search of their own blue skies.