The Aviatrix
by Violet Marsh
A well written story . Entertaining show friendship hardship and romance. Great read about a woman pilot in WW2. Overall very good read though there odd parts where the story would drag a bit.

I really liked this book, but I felt that there were lulls in the story that needed some help.. However I found this to be really enjoyable and entertaining and would recommend.

I loved this romance so much. The friendship, the hardships that she has to get through to prove everyone around her that she is worthy and better and great at what she does and more so, the romance story. I loved her father for the truth he said and felt about her and their love story.

Beautiful beautiful romance

This was an exciting read from start to finish! I enjoyed learning about what it meant and what it takes to be a women pilot during the times of WWII. I enjoyed the characters and the romance was a nice added bonus to a wonderful story of aviation.

This book started with so much vibrancy. I was immediately hooked and desperate for more. I found though, once the romance reached its conclusion that the grip it had on me began to drift, and it was unfortunately a DNF. I’d love to give it another go though, as the first two thirds were magical

Violet Marsh has written an enjoyable and uncomplicated novel that I really enjoyed while trying to stay cool over the summer. I found myself pulled until the 1920s and this amazing golden age of flight, when women first took to the skies. Our heroine, Mattie McAdams, wants to become a stunt flyer and the backdrop is one of my favourite periods of history, turbulent and changeable. We’re still in the post-war period, when men were coping with the aftermath of war and women were fighting for equality in all things. This is also a time of growth, with huge advances in technology and building. The author manages to show this is a time of great excitement, but also touches on social issues like racism and prohibition. I really enjoyed the history of women pilots and the advances in airplane technology. I thought it was brilliant that she included women of colour within the other pilots and explored their journey too. I really fell in love with the sense of freedom the women get when flying. There’s a daredevil spirit in these women that I really admired.

Of course this is a romance so there must be the usual tropes to follow, but trying to be romantic and feminist at the same time is a difficult tightrope to walk. I think the author just about manages it. The obstacles are easily overcome - her need to fly, his PTSD and the fact that they are childhood friends doesn’t keep them apart too long. The main joy for me was in watching this young woman becom the stunt flyer she’s always wanted to be.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.

Delightful story of women aviators in the post WW1 period. Daring stunts and romance... what more could you want!!

Loved The Aviatrix by Violet Marsh! Set in the 1920's it deals with the early days of a flying circus and the brave men AND women that were a part of this. This is the kind of book you read and want to learn more about this! Mattie McAdams lost a brother in the war and her family is very protective of her and doesn't want her to do the daring stunts she desperately wants to try. She joins an all woman flying circus called the Flying Flappers and it's just so exciting to see what they accomplish in a time when this was something everyone thought only men could do. Really enjoyed this story!

This was such a fun look at the world of aviation and what it felt like to be a pilot and a woman during this time. The romance mixed with history was enjoyable. I loved these characters!

LOVED IT!
This story gripped me from start to finish, sweeping me up in the fight for women's equality, the glamour of the 1920s, the post-war pain and trauma, the exhilaration of flying and finding love.
Violet Marsh has authored a fun but not frivolous adventure highlighting some really big issues like women's equality, the sacrifices of war, racism, prohibition and the advance of both building and technology.
Mattie McAdams inspired me to keep fighting for equality and recognition, but also to stand on the shoulders of the women who have fought the fight before me, on whose shoulders I stand.
I also love a good love story, with a few villainous characters and careful twists thrown in, and I'm one of the thousands of people who stand enthralled at air shows even 100 years later than this book is set.
This story lacked nothing, but I would love a prequel or sequel so I could spend more time in the presence of the Flying Flappers, and the McAdams Family. My only criticism would have been exploring Leo's back story at greater depth, this did not dent the story but might have illuminated it.
It left me wanting to hang our with the flappers, enjoying life, pushing boundaries and destroying barriers. Wonderful!

Historical fiction with strong female protagonists? Oh heck yes. Sign me up. This is a wonderful historical fiction that transports its readers back to almost nearly 100 years ago. Not just a great summertime read but a great read for any time you want to root for well written characters who are smashing archaic societal norms. Recommended!

3.5 stars
A historical romance with a context you have not read any other book before! A first book for Violet Marsh and I am excited to see what she will write next.

The context with the flying circus is very entertaining and it does not feel like you already read this story in the past. I got transported in this book so easily, it’s such a positive story even with the struggles Mattie faces. Somehow, Marsh managed to talk about the misogyny present in society, feminist issues, personal growth without making it heavy.
The bonds between all the girls in the circus is great and an amazing example of positive feminine friendship.

Even if I would categorize the book as a historical romance, when I finished the book, it was not the only thing I remember from this story. Leo’s character development is great and he learns to manage being supportive and protective of the woman he loves.

This book can be read by a younger audience as much as a more adult audience since there are no sex scenes. The biggest thing you will read is that Leo is thankful for the current fashion as pants are not as tight as they used to be, so a bit more comfortable in the predicament he finds himself.

Mattie McAdams longs to perform her stunts in her families flying circus, standing in her way are her three over protective older brothers, and flying ace Leo Ward. Mattie meets Vera Jones, a very modern woman, and she plans to start a female flying circus, and she offers Mattie a job. Vera’s circus is called Flying Flappers, Mattie and Carrie are the two stunt pilots and Vera and Alice preform aerial acrobatics.

Leo Ward was a pilot in the Great War and he flew with his best friend and Mattie’s twin brother Alfred. Leo feels like he owes the McAdams family a lot, he feels guilty, he survived the war and Alfred was killed. So he’s very protective of Mattie, he cares about her a lot and doesn’t want her to get hurt. Mattie and Leo join the circus together, life in Chicago is amazing, she goes to her first ever speakeasy club, starts wearing modern clothes, has her hair cut, gains confidence and it’s all very liberating.

Mattie has an idea that could change the aviation industry, make flying safer, she needs someone to take her seriously and at a time when men didn’t listen to women! The Aviatrix is a story that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat, it’s full of action and a cast of interesting characters. If you like a narrative about strong innovative women taking the lead and this could be the book for you.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, an enjoyable read and three and a half stars from me.

The Aviatrix was a novel that I really wanted to like. The theme is of great interest to me and it immediately made me think of « Wing » by Danielle Steel, a novel I absolutely loved! Unfortunately, the execution didn’t convince me. It wasn’t as engaging and riveting as I was expecting it to be. It is a disappointment because, like I said, it’s precisely the kind of female empowerment stories I love to read about. Too bad!

I absolutely loved this book!

I feel it’s a book we all should read to be reminded of all the women who fought befor us to give us the chance to chase our dreams, just as any man would.

The courage of Mattie was inspiring, I loved how fierce she wad and how she never gave up on the goals she had for herself and for the good of her family.

Leo was so sweet, even though he sometimes came as overprotective. I felt for him and all the fears he had, and how much he wanted Mattie to be happy. I loved the fact that he never believed Mattie was incapable to do what she wanted, he just was scared and felt responsible for her.

I loved seeing both of them grow and learn together and slowly realizing the love they always had for each other.

The supporting cast was also wonderful, I loved seeing so many great examples of wonderful and talented women who wanted to prove how capable they were to achieve anything.

Thank you so much NetGalley and the Author for gifting me an early copy of this book.

I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

The Aviatrix stands out as a unique historical romance, as while most are set pre-1900 (most set after are marketed as historical fiction), this one is set during the 1920s. It also piqued my interest as I love to read about historical women engaged in atypical professions and pursuits, and the fact that this one depicted a flying circus, a phenomenon that I had not heard of, but clearly was a source of entertainment at this time in history.

I generally liked Mattie as a heroine, and rooted for her as she pursued her flying ambitions. The fact that the other women in the circus were also centered was also a plus.

The relationship between Mattie and Leo took time to grow on me, but I liked it once it did. I did feel like Leo’s POV had less to offer than Maddie’s, as while he has a connection to Maddie due to him having served with her brother in the Great War and generally being a friend of the family, it felt like her growth as a person was more important.

This book also felt like a bit too slow of a burn, so I felt my investment flagging at times. There’s excitement when the circus puts on shows, but the pacing between those feels uneven.

This is a charming read, and while I did have issues with it, I still more or less enjoyed this book for what it has to offer. If you like historical romance, but want a different setting from the norm, I recommend trying this one.

What a fun read this is! Mattie is a flying genius but she's hamstrung from soaring in her family's flying circus by the attitude toward women in the 192os and their concern for her safety. As a result she joins an all female group- the Flying Flappers- and her world expands as they travel. And there's Leo, her twin brother's best friend. He knows Mattie can handle herself but he's protective of her and follows her on the Flappers tour. This is a good historical novel of strong women with a sweet romance as well. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.

The Aviatrix by Violet Marsh was an interesting historical that touched upon the role of women in the early 1920's, while also being a charming romance between two friends. Mattie is a really fierce character, she laments about show she has all the skills she needs to go out into the world and fly, but is held back by being a women. In this book we get great examples of her fighting that while also building strong bonds with the other women around her.

The romance between Mattie and Leo was sweet and light and was just cherry on top to this book. I loved seeing Leo learning how to support Maddie and vice versa for Leo. I loved the face that they were friends first.

My one issue was at some points I thought this book was saying that this was a feminist story while also showing it and it didn't need to be said all that much because that story showed through with the ideas that wanted to get across.

Strong, independent women in the 20s! Love the broody men and the planes!!! Sweet and thrilling. Exceeded my expectations by a long shot.

The Aviatrix was such a treat! It’s a historical romance that is 100% about women empowerment. And Violet Marsh did such a wonderful job crafting this world, the characters and this story. If you read her acknowledgements and her historical notes, you’ll see how much she was inspired by the women of that era and the things they were able to achieve when the world was working against them. In The Aviatrix, we are introduced to a group of women who won’t let anyone or anything stand in their way of making a name for themselves.

Mattie McAdams is the youngest in her family and the only girl, so her brothers and her father have always gone out of their way to protect her. But Mattie is a pilot and she knows her way around a plane better than anyone else. She even taught Leo Ward, the only non-family member of the McAdams troupe, how to fly. Being a woman, everyone believes that she needs to be protected and stopped from doing reckless stunts that everyone else can do. Truth is, Mattie is better than all of them combined. And Mattie isn’t afraid to let them know. So when she gets an offer to join an all-female flying circus called the Flying Flappers, Mattie knows this is her only way to show her family and the world that women can do everything men do. Much to her family’s chagrin, Mattie takes the job and Leo tags along and that is where the story gets interesting.

Like I said, it’s a story about women empowerment. In 1923, when the book is set, women were obviously meant to stay at home and be housewives or look good and flounce around at parties and the like. But Mattie is not one of those women. She believes that she can do everything a man does, but better. I loved Mattie. She’s a tough woman and she doesn’t back down from a fight, no matter who she’s going up against. She’s also extremely smart and talented, which just lends to her overall awesomeness. Mattie was born for adventure and she’s not going to let her brothers, Leo or other men she meets along the way stop her from achieving that goal. She’s truly such a powerful character, but she’s not only reckless and adventurous, Mattie is kind and genuine and she’s lovely in a way that so few notice. Mattie has spent her whole life around men, so when she meets the Flappers, she takes some time to adjust to being around so many women. But she never loses her sparkle and shine, all the things that make Mattie who she is.

“She always managed to look like adventure, even after she’d nearly terrified his soul into leaving his body.”

While it’s a story about the Flying Flappers and Mattie McAdams, it’s also a story of love. And that’s where Leo Ward comes in. Broody, silent, grumpy and protective Leo. After the Great War, Leo’s taken on the responsibility of taking care of the McAdams family. Which includes Mattie, the one great love of his life. Sure, nobody even knows how Leo feels about Mattie, but he’s never needed to tell her, because he’s always been around her and she’s his best friend in that sense. Leo is such a wonderful character. While he’s difficult at times and always getting in Mattie’s way when she wants to do something that he considers reckless, Leo is also willing to learn where he’s going wrong. He’s not just being difficult for the sake of it, he knows that Mattie can take care of herself, but he also wants to be the one she leans on when she needs assistance. But like any man, he comes at it the wrong way. However, Leo learns that in order to have a relationship with Mattie, he first needs to build a partnership with her.

I was really glad that we got to see two PoVs, even if they were in third person, because seeing Leo’s side of things really amplifies your respect for Mattie and the women. Ah, the Flappers. These women are so brilliant and so different from each other, but they support each other too. Every single one of them brings something to the circus and the friendships, relationships and bonds they create are so wonderful and powerful. I really enjoyed seeing these women interact with each other, exploring topics like sexism and racism through their dialogue. There are women of colour, there are women from all fields of life and altogether, they make up the most brilliant Flying Flappers.

The romance! So brilliant. I loved the slow burn, I loved how Mattie and Leo are constantly bickering and arguing with each other before they realise that all of this just means one thing. The moment their relationship shifts, you see a difference in the characters too. Mattie is still an independent woman who wants to make a stand and Leo is still a broody, grumpy man who wants to protect her, but they become softer and more loving. And the more Leo and Mattie smile, the more you fall in love with them. It’s mostly closed-door, but there are some truly steamy scenes that you’ll wish were longer and you got to go further.

The one thing I haven’t spoken about, but really loved about this book was the time period it was set in. It’s not your typical historical novel, but it’s set in the Roaring 20’s and it includes all of the wonders of prohibition and the introduction of flight, and all of that wonderful fashion. There’s so much information about that era packed into this book to transport you there and it’s so wonderfully written. I admire how much research went into making this book grounded in the time period, which also includes the language and the slang. I find that those are things that really completes the whole historical element.

Thanks to Violet Marsh, Montlake and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.