Cover Image: Her Last Flight

Her Last Flight

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Member Reviews

A wonderful story about Irene Foster who learns to fly like she surfs in California. Soon she and her teacher, Sam Mallory are off racing in flight derbies which were a big source of income in the 1920's. But this story is more than that when in the late 1940's a photographer shows up at Irene's home in Hawaii wanting to know everything about Sam since she is writing a book on his life. Definitely read this fascination tale by Beatriz Williams.

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Promising an adventure of a lifetime: this book will take you on a flight giving you a glimpse of navigating this one precious life.

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I really enjoyed this book! The historical details were interesting, and the book is so well-written it flew by as I read. The story of the early years of flight, and all the risks the pilots took, was so interesting and I learned a lot. Beatriz Williams knows how to write unforgettable, multi-dimensional characters that really draw you in.

I highly recommend this book, 4 stars.

Thanks to Harper Collins Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I see that, so far, I am odd person out in regards to this book. I'll say it was pretty good. The beginning was intriguing, the end mostly compelling, but the middle lagged and I had definite issues with parts of it. The story is in two parts - the first takes place in 1936-37 and is the story of Irene Foster, a female aviator, and Sam Mallory, one of the best pilots in the world. They meet surfing and somehow Sam just knows Irene will make a great pilot, even though there are very few female pilots at the time. They become world famous for their daring flight to Australia. The second part (told in alternating chapters) is the story of Janey Everett in 1947, a photographer who was on the beach in Normandy and took famous photos for the AP through World War II. She discovers Irene in Hawaii who had disappeared 10 years earlier without a trace. The denouement is gripping in parts, a mystery being unraveled where characters themselves do not know the answers, and the women are fierce.
Some issues I have are the women themselves, both strong but surprising uninteresting considering their stories. They didn't feel real. In fact, the book felt like a book, not as immersive as I would have expected. There was some melodrama that was unnecessary, and then the ending was concerning. (view spoiler) Also, all of the seemingly random connections were just too coincidental to be believable. The more I think about it the more it felt like a pretty entirely unbelievable story. Oh well. I enjoyed reading most of it, the flying aspects were interesting and educational, but I have too many issues with it to recommend. Again, though, I seem to be odd person out as so far it's getting very good reviews otherwise.

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First, thanks to NetGalley and the publisher and author for the arc of the book.
4.5 stars rounded up
The novel follows the dual story lines of Janey Everett, a war correspondent, as she tracks down the famous female pilot Irene Foster, now Irene Lindquist, to Hawaii in 1947. Janey is seeking information about famed pilot Sam Mallory, who is believed to have died in the Spanish desert during the Spanish Civil War. The other story line follows Irene Foster as she becomes a world famous, pioneering female pilot through her meeting of Sam Mallory and the events that lead up to that fateful time in Spain in the Spring of 1937.
The author does a great job weaving the two stories together to slowly reveal the mysteries and secrets that both Irene and Janey have held as the reader discovers what happened to Sam Mallory all those years ago and what has brought both women to Hawaii. I was engaged in the story the entire time and needed to keep reading until the end. I was sad when it ended because I did not want to leave the characters, but it ended at a point where there was satisfaction for the reader.
This book spoke to me on so many levels. It is a book that I will keep thinking about in the days and months to come.

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My first from this author and it was absolutely beautiful. I ended up being sent a finished copy and I couldn’t put it down. I will be buying her past books and recommending this to everyone.

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Beatriz Williams spins another unforgettable tale with HER LAST FLIGHT. Told in dual timelines, Williams weaves the tale of two strong women, both in professions that were, at the time, male dominated. In 1947, Janey Everett tracks down Irene Lindquist believing her to be missing aviatrix Irene Foster, who disappeared 10 years earlier during a flight around the world. Irene was the student of Sam Mallory, a forgotten aviator pioneer and Irene’s instructor and partner, and Janey thinks she can shed light on the blanks in her book about Sam. Both women have secrets and parts of the past they need to come to terms with, and the more time they spend together, the more they learn about each other and the past, which also forces Janey to re-examine her beliefs.
Williams uses the novel Janey is writing as a window to Irene and Sam’s story in the 1930’s, a method I found thoroughly enjoyable. Her research and presentation of the historical aspects of aviation were intriguing and the story kept me engrossed until the end and the twist that took me by surprise.
Beatriz Williams has been a must-read for me since I read ONE HUNDRED SUMMERS eight years ago, and she never disappoints. I love the way she develops the characters and her stories and the seamless way she integrates them into the historical timeline she sets them in.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
#HerLastFlight #BeatrizWilliams #WilliamMorrow #BeatrizBinge #TheBookClubGirls

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Her Last Flight is an incredible book with a brilliant twist (or should I say surprise) that shocked me but tied everything together so nicely. I feel like this is a little different from the author's previous novels (I've read them all), a little more sexy, and I'm here for it! One of the things I've come to love about Beatriz's books is the conversational tone of the writing and in this book, I felt like Janie was sitting across the table from me telling me the story.

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Great books often transport you to different places and times. Her Last Flight did this with style! We were flown to the 1920's and 1940's in a vintage airplane by dual narrators. If you enjoy books about strong women making unconventional choices, I think you will enjoy this. Pay close attention to details as you may find yourself flipping back to see how you didn't figure out several changes in what you thought that you knew. A very fun summer read!

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Even if you have no interest in the history of aviation, you’re going to be caught up in it and enjoy it. Loosely based on the life and disappearance of Amelia Earhart, Williams has continued to do detailed research before writing her historical novels. While it is based on Earhart’s life it is not about her. Here history is recreated in the story of Irene and Sam and a bevy of women daredevil pilots. Suspense, romance, intrigue, and great characters make up this story.

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What an adventure! This unique story, told in alternating timelines though both historical, just blew me away. Part love story, part mystery with a lot of family drama, the story unfolds little by little like puzzle pieces being revealed and the mystery isn't one you would likely guess. The author does a great job unveiling just enough to keep you reading on the edge of your seat. This book is one I'll be recommending and probably rereading myself. If you've ever been interested in the mysterious disappearance of Amelia Earhart then you will enjoy this "what if" fictional tale based loosely on her story.

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Irene Foster and Sam Mallory quickly became the world famous as together, they took on more and more daring challenges in the dawn of aviation. Their fame eclipsed when the media furor of Irene’s disappearance during a race around the world and Sam’s disappearance during the Spanish War died down when they were never located. Janey, a photojournalist, spent years researching the missing duo because she was convinced there was more to their disappearances than the was released to the public. Janey finally found Irene in her hideaway on a Hawaiian island. At first, Irene rebuffed Janey’s questions and requests for an interview for her book about Sam, but she eventually had a change of heart and invited Janey to stay at her family’s home and began telling her and Sam’s stories.

This story is told in the “present” (1947) when Janey is trying to get information from Irene, and through excerpts of Janey’s book about the flying couple.

I loved the format, instead of flipping back and forth between Janey and Irene, I loved the idea of hearing the story from Janey’s book and what was actually happening to Janey as she gathered information. As the daughter of a pilot, I could relate to the aviation details and the settings in airplane hangars and airports (the funny thing about about an airport hangars - they all smell exactly the same!). I also liked the perspective of these aviators - they didn’t just take on daring challenges and perform stunts to awe spectators, they were pushing the limits to show the potential of air travel. Of course, the story also culminated in a beautiful love story.

This is a great book if you are looking for historical fiction with a twist to how the story is told.

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Her Last Flight by Beatriz Williams is the kind of nonfiction book that sends me to Mr Google to make sure the characters aren't real! The author uses a dual time line to tell the stories of Irene Foster and Sam Mallory beginning in 1928, and Janey Everett in 1947.

I admit, it took me awhile to get into this book. Most of the fault was my own - I didn't immediately catch that the past storyline was really the novel being written byJaney, the narrator of the present storyline. Once I made that connection, everything fell into place, and I loved the storyline, as well as the technique.

The writing is outstanding and vivid, and the characters are totally engaging, of not always likable. In short, they're real.

Janey is a photojournalist obsessed with Sam Mallory, a famous aviator from the past. Her plan is to write a book, an expose, and she's tenacious in following the story wherever it leads. The story leads her to Irene Foster, Sam's flight partner and a famous aviator in her own right - think Amelia Earhart. The problem is that Irene disappeared during a long distance flight and has apparently been dead for a decade.

But she's not. Janey tracks her down and that's when the story really starts to take off.

This is a story about romance and adventure, about sacrifice and success and about feeling trapped and feeling abandoned. There's revenge and forever love, and there are twists. Like twists that had me yelping out loud in the middle of the night.

Because Her Last Flight is that kind of book. It draws you in and makes you care, it brings you along as the characters grow and change and flounder. It makes you care.

This review is based on an advance copy read.

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Her Last Flight by Heart is Williams,who had to really done a excellent job on the research for this story! The characters are very strong and you really relate to the characters on the roles that they play in this story! You have a combination of crime,mystery,love,and a role that women back in this time was a man's life! Adventures take you all over the world in trying to find people who have disappeared and may have now be found. Exciting read it was for me and I so hope for you! Received this book through Net Gallery and I thank you so very much!! You will really enjoy this read it you are anywhere near taking a adventure of finding clues!

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I am a huge Beatriz fan, so I was excited to get the opportunity to read this book. Solid writing, albeit the investigator was a little too snarky for my personal tastes (but she had a personality to match her pursuit in the book). I thought Beatriz wrapped the book up really well. At first I wasn't sure how things would work out, but she beautifully brought the story lines together. Well done!

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Review will be posted on 7/13/220

Janey Everett, an accomplished photographer and war correspondent, is visiting the gorgeous island of Kauai. While here, she hopes to research and write her book on Sam Mallory, a famous aviator who went off to fight in the Spanish Civil War and was never seen again. While on Kauai, Janey hopes to find Irene Lindquist, who she believes is the one-and-only Irene Foster, who was once Mallory's flight student as well as eventual flight partner turned lover. Irene has been hiding out from the world, but Janey hopes to track her down and have her answer some questions about Sam's illustrious life. Except the problem is that Irene Lindquist might not be the famous Irene Foster, who flew around the world in 1937, but then went missing. Janey has a hunch though and hopes to get some answers. The fact that Sam's plane was finally found in a Spanish desert will hopefully intrigue her and get her to open up. Her Last Flight by Beatriz Williams is a compelling story that undoubtedly makes you think about Amelia Earhart. The novel is filled with some great historical details as well as aviation details all the while keeping you flipping the pages about all the unanswered questions.

The characters are very interesting in Her Last Flight. Janey is quite persistent, so when she tracks down Irene, she really tries to get to the bottom of things. Once she gets Irene to admit her identity, she is able to fill us in on Sam. I really like how Williams used excerpts from Janey's novel, Aviatrix, to also fill in the blanks regarding Sam and Irene. I especially enjoyed the details regarding how they met, how they became flight partners, and their inevitable romance. I found myself rooting for Irene and Sam's relationship despite the major roadblocks ahead and I also enjoyed their many adventures.

Williams put a lot of research into Her Last Flight. Even though it isn't biographical fiction, I still couldn't help but make connections to Amelia Earhart. I think it's an interesting reimagining of Amelia's life and her disappearance. Also, the details surrounding aviation were also really fascinating, and of course I loved the Hawaiian setting and other tropical settings as well as the details regarding surfing.

Her Last Flight isn't one of my favorite of Beatriz Williams's novels as I really didn't care about the characters as much as I was hoping; nonetheless, it is a solid historical "beach read" and perfect for fans of aviation as well as adventure. You can't help but wonder what happened to Amelia once you are done reading Her Last Flight and only hope that this is her story.

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I devoured this book. I've always been fascinated by stories like Amelia Earhart's. While this book wasn't directly about her, it was clearly inspired by her. I loved the character development and the way the plot unfolded. I will definitely look for more books by this author. I received a copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

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Her Last Flight • Breatriz Williams
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the free copy in exchange for this review:
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“But what about womanhood? Isn’t a woman capable of courage and daring?”
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👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Thumbs Up:
FUNNY narration, I enjoyed the way the same narrator told the whole story but in different ways between the actual events and her “writing” throughout. Very interesting plot line as well. This book had great writing.

👎🏻Thumbs Down:
Some points dragged but when the mystery picked up I really got into it!

🤓For readers WHO:
-Enjoy HF/mystery
-Like strong (and stubborn 😉) female leads
-Enjoy reading witty narration (This narrator is a hoot!)

👉🏼This is what’s WHAT:
Eugenia will stop at nothing to discover what happened to the mysterious Irene Foster, a famous pilot who disappeared in 1937. Irene doesn’t want to be found, and definitely doesn’t want her story told. What Eugenia finds out, and what Irene has to say may not be what either of them expected.

⏳WHEN I read this book:
It made me want to read more about Amelia Earheart! Definitely a more unique HF.

🚨WHERE you should watch out:
-sexual assault
-sexual innuendo/descriptions
-war/violence
-descriptions of plane crashes
-infidelity
-suicide/suicide attempts

📍WHY you should read this one:
Intriguing mystery novel loosely based on the Amelia Earheart disappearance

📚HOW I read it:
E-arc via Netgalley

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Photojournalist Janey Everett is trying to solve the mystery of what happened to pilot Sam Mallory. He seemed to have disappeared off the face of the planet while fighting in the Spanish Civil War. His often copilot, Irene Foster (inspired by Amelia Earhart) also disappeared while on a cross continent flight. Both are presumed dead, but Janey thinks one of them may actually be alive to tell their story.

Beautiful story of love, family, and the price of fame.

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Beautifully written. Gorgeous character development. Enveloping scenery and a wonderful moment in time. Transported me away!

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