Airborne by DiAnn Mills is definitely a timely story - one that could almost be ripped from the headlines! While there are differences from real life - this fictional virus is incredibly deadly and released as a bio-weapon - the fact that we are living through a global pandemic makes this story seem much more real.

The story is full of nail-biting suspense, as we've come to know and love from DiAnn Mills, but it also includes plenty of dynamic characters. Chad and Heather both go through some challenging circumstances, both together and separately, as their marriage is in trouble and it looks like Chad might have something to do with the virus. I did have my suspicions about who the killer might be, but I was definitely surprised by how it all played out! This book will keep you turning pages long into the night. Another great book by DiAnn Mills!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is the first book by DiAnn Mills that I have read, and what timely material! While not exactly like the pandemic we are facing, the book does touch on a similar subject. I enjoy how the main character, Heather, moves from an FBI agent, to sympathetic friend, to wife, and soon-to-be-mom. The storyline is good but at times moves a bit slow around the middle. Some of the conversations between characters were a bit forced causing an unnatural flow. I enjoyed that it was a clean, Christian novel. Overall, the book was good. Readers of Christian suspense and intrigue will like this one.

Looking for a book that will keep you up at night because you don't want to put the book down?  Airborne is that sort of book and I found myself reading it at work over lunch or on breaks and was sad when the story ended. 

In today's crazy world (all of 2020), this book hits a note with everything we have dealt with regarding COVID-19. While this book was written long before this virus, the similarities are uncanny. Perhaps DiAnn is a bit psychic.

The crux of this story is a deadly virus released on a plane and the search to determine how it was released, by who, and why. The cast of potential villains is not large and it is hard to decipher who is the guilty party.  Is it who is being reported by the media, or is it someone else? Are there multiple players in this game?  I have to say that I did figure out who but not the why.  It was more of a gut reaction to this character for no specific reason other than they just seemed off. Not that there weren't a few other likely choices and I nearly changed my mind or considered adding another character simply for their behavior.  There are two chapters in the book that are told from the antagonist's POV and there are no clues given as to the identity of the character. The second chapter might lead you down a path but will it be the right one? When all is revealed in the end, I was blown away by the why. It is a very complex story and while there are tiny hints, there are no overt clues to explain why this situation has happened.

While the main focus of this novel is the virus, there is also a major storyline between Heather and Chad and the demise of their marriage. Chad is dedicated to discovering a cure for some of our most deadly viruses after losing a friend to one.  This affected him drastically to the point of cutting Heather out of his life. This wasn't their only issue.  Religion was a huge hurdle for Heather to overcome. She is a Christian but Chad is an Athiest. She knew this going in, but I suspect she thought she could change him or at least persuade him to be open to God and faith. Neither of them is perfect in this relationship and they both need to take some responsibility for the way their relationship cratered. I enjoyed watching them both admit to their mistakes and try and learn and grow and become better versions of themselves. 

I appreciated that this book did not delve deeply into the science behind the virus or its creation. There is enough to set the stage for what happened but does not dive into the nuts and bolts of creating the virus or the research involved. It was intriguing to discover what they thought was the reason that some were not infected or become ill from the virus. Anything is possible when it comes to the human body and our ability to fight off disease.

There is a strong faith base to this story, as would be expected since the author writes Christian based novels. Not only is Heather a strong believer, but so are some of her FBI coworkers and a doctor friend of Chad's. I enjoyed watching their stories unfold in a way that provided Chad with reason to reconsider his non-belief especially when confronted with works from several authors he admired. Chad's transformation takes place over a weekend, but that weekend is intense and I was intrigued by the references to C.S. Lewis which sent Chad down a rabbit hole in his research. 

Here are some of my favorite lines from this book because several of these are how I feel especially in today's society. I feel the author has captured our society to a T and not necessarily in a good way.

"Heroes are built from adversity."

"She craved confirmation God had not abandoned them."

"Children are the seeds of a beautiful future. they should be nourished and loved."

"...the world doesn't revolve around the next scientific discovery by a man who doesn't accept his humanity. Relationships matter."

"Every virus has the potential to take lives."

"One thing I'll say about the media. They present news in a way that initiates responses, emotionally charged ones. The truth will be exposed, but in the meantime, we'll hear facts and opinions."

"Love was more important than prestige, power, and position. Chad called those the three p's destined to destroy a man - or a woman."

Overall, this book is a winner and I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys romantic suspense. We give it 5 paws up.

FBI Special Agent Heather Lawrence boards her trans-Atlantic flight in Houston on her way to Salzburg, Austria for a much-needed vacation. She has a lot of things to think through during her time away because her husband Chad has asked for a divorce. They have been drifting apart for some time now, and Chad refuses to seek counseling. Heather doesn’t want to throw away eight years of marriage; she thought it would last forever.

A shrill scream from behind Heather’s business class seat on the plane, causes her to jump into action. Her FBI training as a Behavior Analyst with the Critical Incident Response Group is alive and well. An elderly man is having a bad nosebleed and his wife cannot get it stopped. Heather assists but finds he is also burning with fever. Simultaneously, others on the plane begin to experience the same maladies, as well as several flu-like symptoms. The entire plane is thrown into chaos. Has someone sabotaged the air-filtration system on the plane? Why are some getting sick and others are not?

The plane gets permission to land in New York, and the ill are transported to a hospital. All other passengers are required to quarantine on an island off the coast to see if the CDC and FBI can learn what has caused the epidemic on this plane. Can they find the source in time to stop the deaths that are now following suit? And can they find the person responsible?

Dianne Mills brings us a timely thriller in AIRBORNE. How appropriate is this story considering the pandemic we are living through right now! This story’s strong and resilient heroine is surrounded by a plethora of characters who each play their part well. Heather tries to work with the government agencies from the plane, as well as from quarantine to catch the perpetrator. Several suspects are in the headlights of the FBI, and one of them is Heather’s husband. Was this an act of terrorism? Was the source a weapon of mass destruction? The story line moves quickly and methodically in search of answers to these questions. AIRBORNE is an inspirational story about relationships, not only between people but also with God. Dianne Mills never disappoints and once again, brings us a dynamic tale featuring faith and trust in God. Put this one on your list!

I’m sure when DiAnn Mills was writing Airborne she had no idea that it would be released in the midst of a global pandemic, where a deadly virus was spreading throughout the world. It certainly made for some timely reading. Fortunately for the characters, they had a chance to stop the spread of their deadly virus and limit the contagion to just an airplane. Unfortunately, for the characters, their virus results in horrific symptoms and death. Airborne is a tense and thrilling read, with lots of suspects to doubt and a complicated investigation.

When FBI Agent Heather Lawrence takes her planed holiday to Salzberg, Germany, it’s not the romantic trip she imagined. Instead of being with her husband, they’ve separated and he has filed for divorce. When a terrible virus breaks out on the plane, their journey is halted as the authorities decide how to handle the situation. As the bodies start to pile up and the conditions onboard worsen, it begins to look like a deliberate act. Number one suspect is Dr Chad Lawrence, Heather’s husband and an expert in viruses, but does he have motive to want Heather dead?

It was interesting to read this book from the perspective of actually living in a global pandemic. Are things handled the same way? What’s the procedure? And it looks like DiAnn Mills got it spot on.

There are a lot of possible suspects in Airborne. A whole plane full, to be precise, plus a few extras. I guessed the culprit straight away, but that didn’t mean I had my doubts or considered the complexity of the plot. Are they working in a team, what’s their goal, what will they do next?

I didn’t like Chad. Not during his oh-whoa is me phase and not after his change in circumstances. He treats Heather terribly and I just wanted him to disappear altogether. But despite the circumstances, there is some romance in the book.

The investigation and response to the outbreak seems horribly slow as the agents and doctors all work around the clock to look at every angle and possibility.

If you don’t mind reading something that hits close to home in these new and strange times, you’ll enjoy the suspense and twists of Airborne - and you’ll maybe be glad you aren’t going anywhere by plane in the near future.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog <a href="https://madisonslibrary.wordpress.com">Madison's Library</a>

You will feel like you're watching a movie, or reading the daily paper as you begin this heart in you throat book, and you will be guessing whom could it be right to the end!
How could anyone be so evil? We know they exist, but so little regard for human life, but keep reading you will get a little look into what makes a sociopath, but there is a hope and we are all given a chance to believe.
I have read many books by this author and this one does not disappoint, it felt way to real, especially with all that is going on in the world right now.
You don't want to miss this one, but warning you maybe up late looking for answers.

I received this book through Net Galley and Tyndale House Publishers, and was not required to give a positive review.

She thanked him. “My commitment to the FBI drives me to reach out to those who are hurting.”

My review title for Airborne is taken from DiAnn Mills tagline, “Expect an Adventure!”

She was quite bold to indicate to me as a reviewer that this may indeed take me on an adventure. DiAnn did not disappoint and in fact, gave me more than I could have even imagined from the pages of Airborne.

Here is the gist of the story of this unputtable down book. An FBI agent whose marriage is failing, boards a plane bound for Germany. Before the plane could even begin crossing the Atlantic, a whole bunch of passengers gets sick in flight, and some die. In the process of quarantine, the story evolves quickly from the who, what, why, and where around a deadly virus that some seem to be immune to.

Airborne takes you on a relentless adventure of discovering more about this virus and uncovering the why of its release. DiAnn’s writing is superb. I can say without a doubt DiAnn did her research on viruses and the science is excellent. The science is just enough for readers to understand what’s going on without bogging them down with “scientific jargon.”

The characters were well-developed to the point that I begin to care about them. There is a core Christianity theme in this book. Science and religion do not often meld well due to all the questions surrounding them both. Thankfully, this theme did not put me off. Matter of fact it intrigued me on a philosophical quest to do some research of my own. Author C.S. Lewis is mentioned more than once in this book. The quest briefly led me to a man I knew nothing about. A few of Lewis’s books have been added to my future TBR list. Here are a couple of quotes by Lewis…

“God allows us to experience the low points of life in order to teach us lessons that we could learn in no other way.”
― C.S. Lewis

“A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.”
― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Three takeaways regarding Airborne…

One, when books can transport you away from your own problems or the problems of the current world, and take you an adventure that you were not expecting – those are the books that are memorable and likable, but most importantly you simply cannot put them down to read for later.

Two, when books inspire you to look-up other authors and add their books to your reading list – that makes for a 1000 percent solid book to read in my opinion. Check out Airborne by DiAnn Mills if you want an adventure that will take you away from your everyday life and maybe inspire you for further reading of more of DiAnn’s or C.S. Lewis.

Third, this is DiAnn’s 80th book! 80th! Congrats, DiAnn on this fantabulous achievement.

Airborne is the perfect story for this time and this place. It’s not about COVID-19, but it is about a deadly virus. More amazing, however, is the fact that DiAnn Mills wrote the story several years ago. Who could have predicted that Airborne would be released in the middle of a global pandemic?

The story follows FBI agent Heather Lawrence. En route to a needed vacation in Germany, Heather’s flight is sabotaged by a deadly virus outbreak. People are dying, but not everyone. Heather seems immune to it, as do others. The flight is diverted to New York, where the sick are hospitalized and the healthy are quarantined. The prime suspect is Heather’s soon-to-be-ex husband, a doctor who specializes in studying viruses just like this one. As more passengers from yhe plane die, the race is on to identify and seize the person responsible before there’s another outbreak.

If you think that’s an awful lot of story for one book, you’re right. But it’s an awesome story! Let me tell you why.

A story about a virus could easily get bogged down by the science. That didn’t happen. There’s actually very little science, yet I didn’t feel anything was lacking in that area. We learn what we need to know about the virus and nothing more. I much appreciated that. I think some authors try to impress their readers by throwing in technical, scientific tidbits that serve no other purpose. This author must feel that less is more - and it is.

DiAnn Mills may not have dazzled me with science (thank you), but she did dazzle me with the in-depth characters. She goes deep into the relationship between Heather and her husband. How did the fabric of their marriage get so thin? Could Heather do her duty to the country if it meant sending her husband to prison? Will her husband discover the secret she’s been keeping? We learn the answers to all these questions and more.

An underlying theme to the marital problems is religion. Heather is religious and her doctor husband is an atheist. Some of the other characters also share their views on religion. I thought the religious overtones were weaved very nicely throughout the story.

In trying to determine who the real antagonist is, I felt like Mills put the characters in front of us like they were in a police line up. We learn a little more about each potential antagonist as the story goes on. They each have their reasons, and it’s very easy to dislike them. It could be any one of them.

I thought the point-of-view (POV) used by the author was very interesting. The entire story was told in the third person, except for the chapters explicitly in the mind of the antagonist. Those were told in the first person. There was no way I could discern who it was based on those chapters, but it does allow the reader to get inside the head of a very evil and nasty person.

The pacing was on point. I can’t really say too much about it without giving spoilers, but I will say that once the steady pace begins to quicken into the climax, it’s likely you won’t want to put it down. I didn’t.

The character arcs were appropriate, and the editing was commendable.

If you or anyone you know has been impacted by COVID-19, you should read this story. Maybe you can see some light at the end of the tunnel. (But it could be the train.)

I’m a fan of DiAnn Mills, and this story did not disappoint me. I highly recommend it.

With its fast-paced action, impeccably researched scientific facts, and super timely plotline, Airborne is totally unputdownable. I suggest for potential readers to schedule a few hours of uninterrupted reading time because they’ll surely be as absorbed in the story and characters as I was.

To be honest, I had some apprehensions when I accepted the opportunity to review an advance copy of this book. Reading fiction is one of my escapes from the worries of real life and the subject of a virus being the central plot in the story seemed to be contrary to that objective. I am glad to have been relieved of my doubts.

While the book deals with the race to find a cure before more people died and the search for the villain who unleashed the deadly biological weapon, it also tackles relationships and the role of faith in them. Heather’s strong belief in God and Chad’s denial of a divine being are at the center of everything that happened to them. These informed how they made their decisions about their past and future, whether apart or together.

Ms. Mills showed great skill in developing the characters in this book, especially the growth arc for Chad and the reveal of the villain. Her writing is commendable in that she incorporated science, medicine, law enforcement, and religion with a deft hand. The language is simple and the situations are realistic.

My only quibble is the insufficient romance in the book. There’s not a lot of it except for the final chapter. Heather and Chad were separated physically and emotionally for the majority of the story and the few scenes when they interacted were mostly spent fighting. The Christian and Suspense parts were satisfactory, the Romantic aspect was a little lacking.

Content advisory: several on-page deaths, physical violence, description of abuse.

It has been a few years since I have read anything by DiAnn Mills, my bad. I had forgotten how intriguing her books are. I was swiftly drawn into Heather Lawrence's life. Heather is a strong woman, FBI agent a turning point in her life. I love that Ms. Mills created an event that overshadowed but then enlarged upon the very event that Heather was fleeing from. This book was filled with danger and excitement. Although I guessed early on who the bad guy was Ms. Mills threw out a few red herrings that had me doubting my self. I also very much enjoyed the theme of faith that Ms. Mills wove throughout the story. This book is very relevant to our time as it deals with a virus and quarantine, but this book was finished long before Covid-19.
So grab a pot of tea and settle in for one of the best books that I have read this year.

I was given this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

"Airborne" is a Christian romantic suspense novel. The story had some eerie parallels to the current COVID-19 outbreak, but it had many differences. It was about a quick acting, deadly virus that was being used as a weapon. Not only did Heather have to deal with the stress of wondering if she's going to get sick, she's also responsible for identifying which fellow passenger released the virus while also dealing with the emotional upheaval of a potential divorce with her husband (who also happens to be a main suspect). After losing a good friend in the Ebola outbreak, her husband returned a different man who said he had no room for her in his life anymore. As Heather dealt with her jumbled emotions, she realized that she had allowed her husband to take the place of God in her life and moved toward deeping her relationship with God. Her atheist husband's life went out of control when he's accused of creating the virus. Since he had time on his hands, he looked into the intellectual answers to his problems with God.

The characters were interesting, engaging, and complex with a lot of depth. They dealt with realistic problems in addition to the suspense elements. The suspense came from not knowing the origin of the virus and if they would find a way to save the people who were infected or stop any future dispersal of this bioweapon. While the identity of the mastermind behind the plot had an interesting twist, I must admit that I suspected whodunit based on current events more than clues found in the book. *laugh* There were no sex scenes. There was no bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting, suspenseful novel.

I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

This book, during this season of COVID-19 was one intense read.

This book dealt with so much, the "conflict" that some feel between science and faith, the question of why God allows terrible things like the virus in the story (or COVID-19) to happen. The struggles of marriage and the hurt that can happen.

But this book also provides hope for our lives. The author does a great job of winding faith without being preachy into this powerful and intense book.

Definitely recommend this book to fans of DiAnn Mills or to anyone that wants a powerful suspenseful story.

Disclaimer: I did receive a copy of the book from the publisher through netgalley.com, but was under no obligation to review the book. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Unfortuntely, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped. While the protagonist was engaging, and the plot certainly suspenseful., there were elements of the story that just didn't appeal. That doesn't mean it wouldn't be a good read for others. We all have different tastes in books and stories, which is what makes reading and discussing books so interesting.

It is very interesting reading this book at this time….in the midst of a global pandemic. Had I read it last year, it would have been more shocking. Reading it now, it almost feels too tame. It was intriguing seeing how the FBI and the CDC went about trying to track down the perpetrators and to keep the virus from spreading.

In terms of the characters, I felt Heather was a little wishy washy in her beliefs about her husband. That bothered me. When I learned her secret, it made a little more sense to me. I also thought Chad was an idiot for his plan where his wife was concerned but I still felt empathy for what he was going through.

I enjoyed the book and enjoyed comparing what happened in the book with what is going on in the world now. Thank you to Tyndale House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Airborne by DiAnn Mills is the author’s latest brilliant work of suspense. A new deadly virus mass distributed through an airplane— could anything be more frightening these days? I have long been a fan of this author and her ability to create unique suspense novels that never feel contrived or formulaic. With this novel, she once again proves her amazing storytelling ability as well as her ability to do impeccable research that is woven in so beautifully to complement the story. I highly recommend this novel to readers who love suspense and good storytelling. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Classic DiAnn Mills...full of mystery, intrigue and suspense. Loved the characters...and story line. Fast paced and so very satisfying. You must read AIRBORNE. Experience the ride yourself. Five stars.

I've read other books by DiAnn Mills and enjoyed them, so I was anticipating a good read with Airborne...it completely surpassed my expectations!

Maybe it is because of the current times (quarantine/virus), but this story seriously hit home and I could empathize with the characters and what they were going through.

I LOVED the characters. I wasn't sure at first where the story with Heather was going, but as I continued reading I couldn't help wishing for a second chance story. I think everything turned out the way it was supposed to and I won't spoil anything.

All in all, Airborne was amazing and I think it is going to make my top reads of 2020. I highly recommend it!

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

When an FBI agent is on a plane on which a deadly virus is unleashed, chaos ensues. Then her estranged doctor husband is implicated. Did he do this to get rid of her? Yikes! In this current climate, this book has creepy undertones. Mills hits the ground running. Recommended.

*My thanks to Tyndale House for a copy of this book. My review ire is my own opinion.

FBI SSA Heather Mills needs to figure out what is next for her life, her husband has made it very clear that he no longer wants to be married to her and does not want to have kids. She decides to take her dream trip to Germany on her own, she thought that she and her husband would be going together, but that is not going to happen. No sooner the plane takes off people start getting very sick and dying. While Heather is taking care of people she continues to pray that her baby is healthy.
Dr. Chad Lawrence is thrilled that his career is flourishing the way he planned. He is about to start a position at the CDC in 3 weeks, now if he could just get Heather to sign the divorce papers. He decided that he can not stay married and continue his career path in the direction it is going, besides they have not been on the same page with their marriage for awhile now. The love they once had is just not there, at least not on his part.
When the CDC and FAA finally figure out where to have the plane land almost the entire plane has been infected and many have died. A quarantine hospital is put together and then there is a wing at Jamaica Hospital that has been turned into a quarantine unit for those who need more intense care and surgery.
While the government is dealing with the pandemic, what to do to contain it and ultimately get rid of it, Homeland Security is working to uncover who in fact let this out & why.
This was a great story, never disappointed by Ms. Mills. Thank you for allowing me to participate.

If you want to read a book that will give you all the chills, check out Airborne by DiAnn Mills. This is the most spine-tingling book I have read in a long time!

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. I received a copy of the book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

When I was younger, I stayed up super late many, many nights reading. I could stay up until one or two o’clock in the morning, and still function relatively well in school the next day.

But after fifteen years, marriage and two kids I don’t function well on little sleep. I rarely stay up late to read anymore.

But once I started reading Airborne, I couldn’t stop. I finally put it down at 2 a.m., but started right back as soon as I could function again in the morning.

Honestly, if I had read it just a few months ago, I might not have gotten the same feelings. But life is different now.

Things that seemed impossible in January are now our real life. This book hits pretty close to home. I’ll let you decide if that’s good or bad!


SUMMARY
Heather Lawrence is an FBI behavior analyst, traveling from Houston to Salzburg on vacation. The plane has barely taken off when passengers suddenly begin to fall ill, and some die.

It doesn’t take long to realize that some sort of virus has been released on the plane. It strikes quickly and randomly.

Decisions must be made quickly about what to do with the plane and passengers. And Heather must help the authorities find out who is responsible before it’s too late.

Suspicions turn to one man who has the knowledge and resources to create such a virus. It just happens to be Heather’s estranged husband, Dr. Chad Lawrence.

Chad wants nothing to do with Heather or her God, but would he go so far as to try to kill her? And if he didn’t, who did?

AIRBORNE REVIEW
To say I loved this book is a bit of an understatement. The word “riveting” sounds like something you’d read in a magazine description. But it really is a good word to describe Airborne.

I haven’t read anything by DiAnn Mills before, so I don’t know how this book compares. But I would be interested in reading them in the future.

Airborne has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, there’s a curve ball you didn’t see coming.

One thing I have noticed about “Christian” fiction, is that it’s often more inspirational than actually spiritual. Sometimes people just have good feelings or a change of heart or find some kind of inner strength.

But Airborne has a definite spiritual influence. The characters pray, ask God for His help, and recognize His sovereignty.

I don’t want to give away too much of the story (because I really hope you’ll read it!), but God plays an important role in this story.

Life looks different for all of us right now than it did even a few months ago. I think that’s part of the appeal of Airborne. We’re all seeing things a bit differently now, and this book makes us think, “What if?”

If you want edge-of-your-seat, thrilling and downright twisty–you need to read Airborne!

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