David Bell is becoming one of my go-to authors for a fast-paced read. This premise hooked me from Page 1, and I couldn't put it down until I knew how the story would come together at the satisfying end. Already looking forward to his next book!

This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. I kept thinking that the twist at the end was going in a different direction. I suppose that's what we were meant to think. As a person who has spent a lot of time in airports on layovers and more hours than I care to think about in the Atlanta airport, I was immediately drawn to this book through the description. However, I have never met a soul that has even remotely enticed me to have a drink with them. After reading this book, I think I can safely saw that it's a good thing. The author presented a very gripping story that was great to read but would not be great to personally experience.

Another thing that drew me to the book was the location. Having a familiarity with the southern part of Kentucky because of growing up there, I was interested in what the real towns could possibly be. But alas, I simple has to resign myself to the fact that they were truly fictional. I did find that the author has written other books so I will most certainly try others since this was a well written book with colorful characters. It did come to a conclusion but there are a couple of 'I wonder' parts to the book. I don't think they lend themselves to a sequel, however.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book. These thoughts are my own.

Wow! That was a wild ride! I was absolutely hooked from the opening scene—loved the set up of two strangers meeting at the airport. I needed to know why Morgan was missing, what she was running from, and why. The ending sort of subverted expectations, so I enjoyed that last little twist :) The exact sort of book I needed for my last few hours of beach reading!

Full disclosure, I got this on netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

While I was willing and interested in reading this to the end, I had to do some suspension of disbelief in order to accept all that was happening. Why any reasonable man would have continued to pursue this very strange woman was a question that continued to plague me as I read the book. As a result, I found it hard to identify with either of the two characters involved in the airport relationship. However, I did love the investigating detective. She made the book worthwhile, even in the face of a rather unrealistic and contrived relationship between the other two. Not a bad book. Just not a great book.

This is my first read by this author and I think it will be my last. I just didn't connect with the characters or the plot.

David Bell is a good writer. I inhaled the story of Joshua Fields, a successful businessman, unhappy with his conventional life, who acts on an impulse and becomes involved with Morgan, a mysterious young woman. The book alternates between chapters told from the perspective of Joshua, recounting how and why he makes the rash decisions he does, and Kimberly Givens, a police detective who in trying to solve a missing person case, ends up on the trail of Morgan,
Unfortunately, just being a good writer is not enough to make a successful book. The reader must identify, or at least sympathize, with the characters in the story. Joshua, however, comes across as undependable, at best, and self-serving with few redeeming qualities. Kimberly, on the other hand, is a strong sympathetic character but she seems to have no real purpose in the story except as a way to vary the point of view.
Without giving the plot away, the ending was as flat as a wet paper bag. I felt like Peggy Lee in her classic song asking, “Is that all there is?” I guess the one good thing is that because David Bell is so readable, I finished Layover quickly.

This book is basically not my type of reading. I gave myself the opportunity to read it in its entirety but I failed to connect with the plot the characters and the type of narrative
  Very long a lot of detail not necessary and the plot very obvious. I can’t catalog the book’s gener as
I don't know what the author's intention was. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read it. The opinions about the book are strictly mine and nobody else's.

Joshua Fields’ life is not as satisfying as he would like. He works for his father and is involved in an on again/off again relationship. Neither situation is making him very happy.

During a layover at an airport, he runs into a beautiful woman. He’s immediately taken with her after they kiss. She makes sure he understands that the kiss is a one time deal and they’d never see each other again. Still, Joshua can’t stop thinking about her. He becomes obsessed with her until he discovers she’s been reported as missing.

I had mixed emotions about this one. At first, I was skeptical about Joshua’s obsession with a stranger. Their initial meeting and Joshua’s rash personal decisions had me scratching my head.

However, halfway through the book, I was totally engrossed. I kept turning the pages to find out how this was all going to end and what the real story was behind this mysterious woman. I still shook my head at Joshua’s reactions to her and the situations that occurred because of her, but it did make for a very suspenseful read. I found myself up late at night until I had all the answers.

I'm a huge fan of David Bell. Most of the books I've read of his has centered around daughters so
color me intrigued when I get something a little different with The Layover. Joshua meets Morgan
in the airport and their brief, but intriguing, conversation causes him to stop playing it safe in life
and start tracking her down. Why is she so secretive? What is she hiding behind her hat and big
glasses and why, even though she's a stranger, does she insist he'll never see her again? You'll think
Joshua is nuts and/or creepy for going after her but we wouldn't have this story without his
impulsiveness, now would we? ;)

As usual, the short chapters and writing style of Bell keeps you turning the pages. The first parts are
extremely compelling and have me right inside Joshua's head while being introduced to Kimberly, a
cop looking into the disappearance of a man and becomes involved. The first little reveal of why
Morgan is on the run was a bit underwhelming but I knew Bell had more in store for us readers and I
was right. Towards the middle to last third of the book, things took a little bit of a back seat and the
intensity waned a bit. And where did Kimberly go? Her storyline almost became nil and I needed
more from this character. It all comes together towards the end and I can appreciate where Bell took
Joshua's character. (I mean, how often do we sit where we're comfortable in life even if we're not
exactly the happiest?)

I love the nod to Kings Island in the book since I used to go to this amusement park when I lived in
Ohio! And cheers to Joshua's dad - the most understanding of all fathers EVER. While I do think
certain parts of the book could've been a bit more fleshed out, I did enjoy this story, even though I
thought Joshua was incredibly nuts to continually go after this stranger. I like where Bell took
Morgan, but I also wish I had more insight to her story as well. It's not a bad thing to want to know
more about these characters, right? Looking forward to what Bell brings us next.

I have really liked the books I've read by Bell in the past, but this one fell short for me on many levels. This is disappointing because the synopsis is actually very intriguing.
First, it is WAY too long for the the plot. There's so much "Well, let me tell you what really happened..." and then something bad occurs and the truth isn't revealed. This happens over and over and over again for nearly 400 pages until the truth is FINALLY given right before the end of the book, and it wasn't even that surprising or revelatory.
Second, do not get me started at how much of an idiot Joshua is. I seriously can't stand books where some random person inserts themselves into an investigation that has nothing to do with them, hiding things from the police and generally doing stupid things. That's exactly what Joshua does in this book. He knows this girl for 5 minutes and he's ready to give up his entire life for her for what--because he's bored? This is insta-love to the gaggiest level, and really not at all believable.
There are also some inconsistencies in the story that pulled me out of the tale as well. She calls him from a payphone in the airport...and then she calls him later and says she got his number when he was sleeping, which didn't happen in the airport right after they met. Many things the police are told they just conveniently forget or don't bother to investigate, and they didn't seem that stupid, they just acted like it.
Overall, this book is too long with a huge shortage of plot. Cardboard characters who behave in dumb, unbelievable ways. Bumbling police who are otherwise intelligent, but can't seem to investigate anything or find Morgan, yet clueless Joshua keeps stumbling upon her with ease.
I'm chalking this up to a one-off, because I know Bell is a great writer. I'll try again with the next book.

I love David Bell's writing style. Right from the start I'm pulled in and completely connected to the story. I found the police investigation absolutely fascinating and loved when the POV shifted to the police detective Kimberly. The investigation really kept me reading - what happened to the missing entrepreneur, was his brother involved, and just how was the woman in the airport involved? I thought her struggles with balancing time for her daughter and her job seemed very realistic and not overdone.

I had some problems with the main plot involving Morgan and Joshua that started at the airport. I was interested and really wanted to find out just what was going on but Joshua's decisions made me want to shake him. I get that he was floundering in both this professional and personal life but some of his choices were flat out insane and stalker-y. But while I was rolling my eyes at Joshua's impulsiveness I was flying through the pages to see just what happened next and dying to see how it resolved. I wasn't disappointed!

This is the 2nd book from David Bell but it won't be my last. Even when his characters drive me crazy his writing style pulls me and his intriguing plots keep me up way too late!

Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me. I had a hard time getting into the story and it didn't hold my attention. The concept of the story was what initially grabbed my attention but then when I started reading, it just wasn't interesting enough for me.

This book just didn't do it for me. Joshua was an outright idiot and Morgan was a waste of space. Their relationship made no sense. Joshua's behavior made even less. Was it suspenseful? Maybe a little bit. But honestly, most of the suspense for me was in figuring out why Joshua was just so stupid. Basically, this was about 1 star, but I'm rounding a bit for originality and decent treatment of family relationships.

Joshua Field"s job takes him on regular flights to different states to meet potential clients.. During another layover, Joshua ends up having a drink in one of the regular airport bars he frequents when waiting for his departing flight. On this occasion, he meets Morgan, a beautiful stranger with whom he feels an immediate connection. When it's time for their flights to depart, Morgan gets up to leave, leans over and passionately kisses Joshua. Morgan then tells him with certainty they will never see each other again. and leaves the bar. Joshua is both dumbfounded and curious, deciding to forgo his business responsibly to follow Morgan on her flight to Nashville. And from that flight on, a cat and mouse games begins between Joshua, Morgan and the detective who is looking for Morgan, given she is considered a "missing person" and possible suspect in her former boss's murder.

This was my first read by David Bell and what drew me in was the clever premise of the story which led me to believe I was in for a suspenseful, thrilling read. Unfortunately, the overall story feel extremely flat for me and I had difficulty connecting with the characters. It was difficult to believe the lengths Joshua would go to after one passionate kiss from a stranger. His character came across as weak and Morgan's character was flat and not sexy at all. The fact that Joshua would impulsively ditch his responsibilities and life as he knew it to stalk Morgan over a kiss and so called instant connection was ridiculous. Given the farfetched plot which, was more of a mystery than thriller and disconnect with the characters I was not riveted to finish, nor impressed to seek out more books from this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Layover, by David Bell, was an OK thriller. The plot and the characters weren't too bad, but they weren't that great, either. This title is one that you could definitely classify as an "airport thriller."

Joshua practically lives in airports because of all the mandatory traveling for work. He hates flying so he pops Valium along with a drink before each flight. In an airport bar at a layover, he meets a woman. She's mysterious, wears a hat and sunglasses covering her face. They hit it off, then she walks away.
Joshua tries to find her, using some clues she has dropped. She mentioned a small town in Kentucky, so he switches his flight to Nashville, rents a car and drives to this town.
This was an enjoyable read --- giving perspectives of Joshua, the girl, and a female detective. The middle part dragged. The climax would be great in a movie. I enjoyed the ending.
Thanks to Netgalley!

When I read Bring her home by David Bell my mind was blown. Then I read Somebody’s Daughter and that was it, became officially a fan! Needless to say I was very excited about Layover! A normal guy with a normal (maybe boring) life meets a beautiful woman, they kiss, he suddenly changes his flight to go on hers and when he finally finds her seat she claims to never seen him before... (This is not a romance by the way!) Maybe because those two novels set the bar way high for me, I felt that this one didn’t make me rush through. 3.5

Imagine meeting a stranger during a layover and having that magical kiss, that kiss that pushes you to want more? Joshua Fields had such a kiss that started him on a tangled journey filled with twists and suspense that will keep you guessing till the end!

I received an e-galley of this title from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

The premise of this book sounded absolutely amazing, and while it was a good book and I enjoyed it, it just didn't quite reach the level of amazing.

The story revolves around Morgan and Joshua, who meet during a layover in the Atlanta airport. Joshua is a twenty-something stuck in a rut, who fears flying. Morgan is a mysterious woman with (apparently to Joshua) something to hide or something to fear. They meet in a bar, share a drink and an apparently really great kiss, because next thing we know Joshua has changed his flight to follow the mystery girl.

What follows is a good story and a good mystery, but all the way through the story I just felt that something was lacking and I am still unable to pinpoint it. The characters aside from Morgan and Joshua felt two-dimensional and a little stereotypical to me. I did like the ending, which wasn't at all what I expected.

Overall this is a very solid 3-star book. I liked it. It was an enjoyable read, but I didn't REALLY like it enough to bump it to 4 stars.

I have to say that this book has an interesting premise and I truly could not wait to find out what was going on! A chance encounter led to quite a ride in this one, including last minute flight changes, an unconventional escape, small town sleuthing, and a pricey stolen item. It was quite a premise and one that had a lot of interesting twists and turns!

Every week Josh takes the same flights for work. He arrives at the airport, and spends his week taking off, landing, checking into hotels, and returning to the airport. All of this is made more difficult by his anxiety over flying—only Xanax and an alcoholic beverage will reduce it enough for him to take the next flight.

But his routine changes one day when on a layover he encounters a mysterious and beautiful stranger. Morgan is initially rude to him, but then later they run into one another again and she apologizes. Josh and Morgan have an instant connection, and it reminds Josh of how truly lonely he is. He shares things about his life with Morgan he hasn’t shared with anyone else, and the two share a deep but brief kiss.

When Morgan slips away, telling Josh they will never see each other again, Josh is crushed. How can he let this person go who he finally feels a connection with? In a state of confusion and boldness, Josh determines that it won’t be the last time he sees Morgan. It isn’t too late, not while they are on this layover. Not while he can choose to go anywhere.

And then Josh learns that there is more to Morgan than he realized. A news report and some research informs him that Morgan is actually listed as a missing person. And her disappearance may be linked to another case, one that is being investigated by detective who is determined to put the puzzle together. In alternate story lines, we follow the mystery of Morgan and the link to another disappearance. What is the truth about Morgan?

I found the premise for this book really interesting, and I definitely wanted to know how it would all turn out. There were a few twists that really surprisedI found myself loving the chapters narrated by the detective. She was a great character and one who I wish had been a bit more prominent. She had that great balance of commitment to work, parenting her daughter, and an intelligence that made her great at her job.

Josh and Morgan, on the other hand, I had a really hard time connecting with. Normally I am ok with an unlikable character, but these two were unlikable in a way that wasn’t fun. Morgan was really frustrating because she wouldn’t answer questions directly. This was a necessary quality I think, because there were things that couldn’t be revealed until later for the sake of the plot. But I think I would have liked it more if she was just deceptive, maybe lying rather than being evasive.

Josh was a huge mess. I did root for him to figure everything out, but I also found him to be such a mess. Perhaps that was part of him being young and a lost soul, though! But the fact was, he did have great people in his life. I actually loved the scenes with his dad and with another character Renee. In fact, Renee has a scene that I’m still thinking about two weeks after reading this. I would love a follow up book about Renee, even though she is a minor character. That is how you write a likable character—I am team Renee!

But despite all of that, I really did want to know what happened. The book started off really strong, but got a bit slow and drawn out at around the halfway point. But stick with it because the last quarter of the book is great! I really liked the ending scene as well, and a few other things that happen. There was also a character in the mid point of the book who works at a hotel that I thought was fascinating.

I’ve read a few books by David Bell and he has such a unique writing style. This book was very different in terms of the plot from the others I’ve read (much more thriller-like than usual), but the feel to his writing and characters are so consistent. I have lots a friends who are big fans of his, and I don’t hesitate to recommend this to them at all. I think a lot of people will have fun with this book, and certainly find it to be an engaging read with a strong conclusion!

Thank you to Berkley for my copy. Opinions are my own.