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Description: book 3 in the Occupational Hazards series
WaterBrook Press, May 20, 2008
Come Fly The Frenzied Skies!
Blissfully unaware that Atlantica Flight 1945 from Atlanta to Amsterdam is about to make aviation history, First Officer Danny McSweeney focuses his energies on navigating the turbulent personalities of an eccentric female captain, a copilot with a talent for tactless comments and conspiracy theories, and a lead flight attendant with an outsized attitude that definitely exceeds the limits for carry-on baggage.
On the other side of the cockpit door, the unscheduled inflight entertainment includes a potbellied pig, a jittery diamond courier, and the recently jilted Lucy Meredith, whose personal mantra of "What Would Oprah Do?" will be challenged by the sudden appearance of her ex and his new traveling partner. On her left sits Hank Hazard, whose unusually polite but constant requests--prompted by his covert role as a spy for teh airline--test the limits of the crew's customer service.
But as Lucy and the crew discover, Hank's odd behavior is linked to a quiet faith that may play a key role in the fate of everyone on board. Especially when an unexpected traveler sets this already bumpy flight on a course toward the unfriendly skies.
check out Rene Gutteridge's website: http://www.renegutteridge.com
Author Bio:
Rene Gutteridge is the author of twelve novels, including the Boo series, the Storm series, and the novelization for The Ultimate Gift, as well as Scoop and Snitch, the first two Occupational Hazard novels. She lives with her husband, Sean, and their two children in Oklahoma City
My Review:
FANTASTIC again! This is my third book in this series in two days. Loved it! Funny....engaging...gripping. You never know what crazy thing is going to happen next in this adventure that takes place almost entirely during one (unbelievably) eventful flight to Amersterdam. (I love that they are going to the Netherlands on the flight! All my grandparents are from there and I grew up in a predominantly Dutch community so it was cool for me!)
What a crazy flight! First there's a wacky captain with some legendary landing in the Bermuda Triangle. There's a thief being escorted back to the Netherlands whose afraid someone on the plane is trying to kill him. There's a woman with a personal assistant pet that's a pig. There's a guy trying to hide the diamonds he's carrying back to his grandmother in the Netherlands and the guy who's trying to steal them. There's a passenger who's dead...and then not dead. There's Lucy, a woman trying to live based on positive and negative energy while recovering from being dumped by a boyfriend who turns up on the same flight. And then there's Hank Hazard. Who in typical Hazard family fashion stands out in this crazy crowd, not because of any wacky behavior of his own, but because he is remarkably different in his peaceful handling of it. All the Harzard siblings are like this. They attract people who want what they have.
(Read about Hayden Hazard in my review here from Scoop. And read about Mack Hazard here in my review of Snitch.).
I think Gutteridge outdid herself with this cast of characters. I laughed out loud at the antics of a pig who is a fussy eater. Grabbed my seat with suspense as Hank and another passenger have to land a plane without a pilot. And was reminded again of the importance of having the kind of faith that shines like the Hazard family faith. Everywhere they go, people around them are struck by their substance and peace.
To purchase your own copy: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1400071593
I hope we get to hear more from the Hazard family soon!
Reading your review, I was thinking the book had some Carl Hiaiison elements, because it seemed like there was humor there. Yes?
I've recently finished "One Foot in the Black," which is more action/adventure than suspense or mystery, but is well worth a look. You'll get an inside look into the world of mountain wildfire fighting, which is way different than city/suburban firefighting. Lots of suspense there. Plus, a parallel story is how the hero works to get past his unhappy childhood and an abusive dad.
Posted by: Elizabeth | June 07, 2008 at 01:28 PM