BREATHTAKING! I have no words to describe how much I absolutely and completely adored this book!

Despite the fact that her marriage was arranged, Geneva is shattered at the death of her new husband.

Determined to uncover the truth about his death and prove her innocence, Geneva uses her new act as a wingwalker and barnstormer as a cover, traveling from town to town as she looks for a missing detective, the one person who may be able to help her.

Geneva's pursuit of the truth uncovers greed, lies and betrayal until she isn't sure any more who she can trust and ultimately realizing that the price some are willing to pay to keep their secrets hidden is greater than she ever imagined.

(Leaving so many things off of my list to avoid major spoilers...)

What to love:
1920s setting
Marriage of convenience
Single POV
The meet-cute
Barnstorming
Mystery & Suspense
Breathtaking romance
Stones from heaven
"I never stopped loving you."

This book left me completely undone! It is achingly romantic in every sense of the word and I am in love with this beautiful story of love and forgiveness and redemption. The characters are raw and real and took me on an emotional journey that I never wanted to end.

I was so captivated by the suspense and mystery, the fascinating history, and the marriage of convenience romance that was passionate and tender and so incredibly swoony. You may need to have your heart checked before picking up this romance because you will undoubtedly experience some heart palpitations while reading!

I don't want to say too much because you really need to go in blind, but this entire book was *chef's kiss* perfection and I cannot wait to read it over and over and over again. It deserves all the stars in the sky!!

I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.

I have found a lot of authors via bookstagram, and Rachel Scott McDaniel is one of them. She has become a favorite. I know I will love anything she writes, because there’s so much in her books. There’s usually mystery that keeps me guessing, and there’s always complex characters that I find myself emotionally attached to. I want them to succeed! I want them to find happiness. I love reading their journeys.

This book was no different. I love that it starts off in the middle. We find our main characters in a tricky position with each other and life circumstances. Then the novel progresses with shifting back in time and then back to the future. We get a glimpse of their beautiful love story, and then flip back to their current reality of not knowing if they can trust each other. I loved this back and forth. I will admit, I don’t always love this in books, but it was done so well that I was constantly excited about either time period I was in. Their love story was beautiful. They had my heart. To then have a mystery come between them (a huge important mystery!!!) was heartbreaking. In all the good ways for book lovers. I loved watching them give to each other. Give each other trust. Give each other their history. Give each other their pains and truth. It was in this giving that their love becomes real. And then I find myself rooting for them and unable to stop smiling at their very romantic encounters.

If you like the roaring 20s, romance, and mystery, this is one for you! I did not figure out the mystery. I thought for sure I had, but I love that I didn’t!

Novel Concept: 5/5
Execution of Novel Concept: 3/5

Title: 4/5
Characterization: 4/5
Dialogue: 4/5
Plot: 1/5
Atmosphere: 5/5
Theme: 3/5
Prose: 3/5

Does this pass the Bechdel Test: Yes

1. The worldbuilding of Walking on Hidden Wings is phenomenal. I can tell McDaniel did the work to give us a good window into the Elite of 1920's and a window into the barnstorming era. McDaniel at the end gives a little history lesson at all the major touch points that are featured in the novel and I liked that. I have a lot of respect for authors that value authenticity over "what will make a good story." because I think authenticity can make a story good.

2. I wanted more scenes actively barnstorming. Considering the promotional work, I expected more.

3. At times I felt like I was being told more than I was being shown. I want to see Brisbane get hit. I wanted to be there when characters figured out who the bad guy was.

4. This book has an asynchronous timeline. That means there's a present timeline and a past timeline and eventually the past timeline will catch up to the point where the novel began. I think if it was synchronized--told in complete chronological order--we would have gotten a sort of Rise, Fall, and Rise Again of Geneva between her being a socialite climbing in the world, to falling and becoming Stella Sterling, to reclaiming herself as Geneva once again but in a more correct way after growing as a character under the name Stella. I felt more distracted by the asynchronous timeline than I felt entertained by it. I didn't feel like I was learning anything of use for the major story beats in such that it needed to be asynchronous.

5. Mx. Big Bad Evil Guy was on my list of suspects but I'm still upset that it was them. Geneva keeps circling back to this suspect and each time they're debunked and so it was really frustrating to see that it was them after all. McDaniel knows how to seed information--the reveal about Lilith's husband was really good--and I wished I would have seen that same care and attention given to the ultimate Baddy.
6. Part 2 of this novel is where the ball finally starts rolling and that's 70% a ways in. But then, all that action is mostly B-Plot / Red Herring work that is very awkward. It trips about and is really more distracting than entertaining. Lilith's decision by the end, for example, was really unbelievable. The Jane Austin thing was just a distraction that felt unnecessary. I also found it just a little funny that Geneva is offended that someone would think she killed Warren but immediately believes that Lilith could be behind all of this.

7. Withholding information from the reader for the sake of a dramatic reveal will always be frustrating. Even more so when there's no good reason for it. In the last 20% we have new information popping up everywhere that at times could have been revealed earlier. The point about the planes similarities is the most offensive of these reveals, followed up by the Jane Austin red herring and the car clue. The car clue is frustrating because by admission, Geneva knew more information than the reader and didn't tell us for no reason other than so she could reveal it in dialogue later. I'll take personal taste on this one, but man it was frustrating because the plot became unpredictable out of author interference and not because it's clever.

8. Brisbane's storyline had a good set up but a terrible pay-off. I was very frustrated. I mention it here because it's a part of the synopsis. All of that mystery set up for us and it amounted to absolutely nothing. He just appears out of thin air because it's time for him to show back up. Honestly, I think it would have been better if he was just dead at the beginning--but I'll take personal taste on that one.

9. This novel's plot needs to be tightened significantly in my opinion. All of the twists at the end stumble and don't land--everything feels convenient and hidden from the reader. There is good narrative seeding at times, but at other times integral plot beats are shoved in right at the end without any real groundwork to support them with. It makes the plot feel very convenient.

10. The family dynamic of is everything you'd want and expect in a powerful and controlling family. The father seeks to reach greater heights, the mother has a Hera-Complex, and the oldest daughter fights to preserve the innocence and freedom of the younger daughter. The love interest gives Geneva the agency that she lacks from her family, cementing them as a power couple against the odds. All of the work is there for everyone to feel like real people. But I do think in the last 20% of the novel a lot of character choices become forced and unbelievable. Lilith choosing to stay with her partner just doesn't make sense--I didn't buy it.

I’d once likened love to a crippling disease, but in truth, it was a cure. A haven for healing. With God’s love within me and Warren holding me tight, my heart could soar to the highest heights.

🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽

Wow! Rachel has knocked my socks off with this one. This book had it all: mystery, suspense, danger, action, betrayal, faith and so much swoony romance!

Set during the roaring 20s, Rachel fills our minds with the opulent lifestyle of the upper class, the excitement of thrill seeking by way of the barnstorming craze that swept the countrysides, and dawning of a new age where women began to find their voice, their strength, and the courage to pursue dreams that literally let their hopes fly. What an exciting time period to explore!

I loved everything about this story. Geneva was an amazing character. She was extremely protective of her sister and sought every way to ensure her happiness and safety. She was the dutiful daughter. Acknowledged, but never feeling love, until the day a handsome stranger walks into her life. Their unexpected meeting quickly leads to a whirlwind romance that crashes and burns before it ever truly soars. When her world starts to crumble, Geneva sets off to find the truth. With gusto and guts, she takes to the skies to search high and low for answers.

What a spectacular story! I love happily ever afters, but it’s even more special when you get the story after the couple says I do. The moments that make or break a marriage, the times when love is put through the crucible, the trials that further deepen the bond and put to test the vows exchanged. It makes for a more meaningful and tender romance that you just want to bask in. Get ready for your pulse to race and your heart to soar, all while you melt into a big ol’ puddle.

First, this story was really different from most historical novels I’ve read over the last year. I loved the addition of a female pilot and planes. It made this story really stand out from my normal read. Second. I also loved the plot of a historical murder-mystery. You really felt the emotions Geneva was going through at each turn. Her grief, sadness, and righteous anger came through each page. This book had me questioning every character and motive. Several times, I thought I found who the murderer was, only to be surprised in the end! The writing was very well done and it definitely kept me engaged. Very unique story that I had a lot of fun reading.

Rachel Scott McDaniel brilliantly transports her readers to the 1920s in this novel full of secrets, faith, and romance. Twists and turns abound throughout this intriguing mystery as we walk alongside the heroine who leaves her glittering life behind to disguise herself as an aviatrix in order to search for clues behind her husband’s murder. Impossible to put down, this book left me in awe, inspired, and wanting to read the story again.

Walking on Hidden Wings was a delightful and thoroughly intriguing read. It is a blend of history and Agatha Christie style mystery with a dash of sweet romance. I enjoyed reading a story set in a slice of history not often put to page, and the twists and turns kept me going - never a dull moment. What a fun introduction to author Rachel Scott McDaniel.

There is a reason Rachel Scott McDaniel is an auto-buy author for me, and that's because she writes some of the best historical romance fiction. Walking on Hidden Wings is no exception. You are immediately captivated from the first page and enchanted until the end. McDaniels' storytelling flows so beautifully it plays like a movie in my mind.

The relationship between the two main characters, Warren and Geneva, shows that some things are worth fighting for.

We follow Geneva who takes to the skies as "Stella" doing Barnstorming shows in small towns to try and find clues as to who killed her husband, but rather finds something even more surprising. The shocking twists will surprise you and take you to an ending you won't see coming.

From start to finish, this book is wonderful. I couldn't put it down. Rachel Scott McDaniel has done it again and made my heart sigh with this thrilling, romantic historical fiction set in the 1920s.


I was given a complimentary copy but the thoughts and opinions are my own