Flight For Control by Karlene Petitt

One of my childhood friends, Dr. Jean Ann French sent me a message via facebook one day telling me that a friend of hers just had a novel published. That's how I met "Flight For Control" by Karlene Petitt.

The first novel of Petitt was published in February, 2012 by Jet Star Publishing. It's very easy to read and moves fast!

Synopsis:

"After a ten-year leave, Kathryn Jacobs has been invited back to the N.T.S.B to investigate a series of unexplained airline crashes. But her husband, Captain Bill Jacobs, has his concerns. While her twin daughters are off at camp, and Bill is actively campaigning for the Pilot Union Presidency, Kathryn secretly begins her investigation. What she learns will shock the nation.

Flight For Control is a thriller that reads like a mystery. But to Kathryn, there is no mystery on the condition of the airline industry—it’s broken. Planes are crashing. Pensions are lost. Pilots are financially and emotionally bankrupt due to fatigue, furloughs, and loss of seniority.

It’s time that someone takes control before it’s too late—unless it already is."

This is the synopsis that should attract the attention of the reader. - My personal opinion is that it just doesn't do the book justice. The synopsis seems rather ho-hum but trust me when I say this book is anything but ho-hum.

Have you ever read a book that while reading you just had to set it down and get up and walk around for awhile - or find something else to do for a bit - to think about what you just read - to calm your fast pulse? THIS is that kind of book. It made me nervous, it made me think, it made me mad!! It was a great read!   : ) 

- Yes, I talk to the television, too! "DON'T DO THAT..." - conversations of that nature! I talked to the lead character, Kathryn a lot while reading this book! Or maybe Yelled at her is a better description! Granted, sometimes I just yell in my head. Randy hasn't decided I'm completely crazy. (yet).. 

I will admit, I don't have much knowledge on the Aviation Industry. This book opened my eyes to much of what Pilots go through. Other than "The Pilot's Wife" by Anita Shreve I've not read books on this subject. This was very interesting. - not too much aviation information so you don't get bored but enough woven throughout the intrigue and mystery of the book to make it interesting. 

I especially liked the story throughout that  shows the reader how strong friendships are not to be taken for granted. How they really do give you strength - support - encouragement - you know, all that stuff that friendships are made of. Over the last few years, it's my friends that encouraged me, gave me comfort and just listened, laughed and cried with me.  I have a fondness for books that have strong friendships involved. - Petitt's book did not disappoint.

Karlene Petitt is a wife, mother, pilot, and now author. "Flight For Control" is her first novel and a very good one! She mentions in the credits at the back of the book that William Barnhardt  "... taught me how to walk before I could fly. His week of intensive training in Hawaii taught me how to write fiction.... (he) pointed me down the right path."  William Barnhardt is one of my favorite authors so for me - that was an added stamp of approval for Petitt's book! You can read about William Barnhardt HERE.

For more information on Karlene Petitt and her first novel check HERE.

I didn't notice bad language, the book does contain some sex!

I Highly recommend this new author, Karlene Petitt

I Highly recommend her book, Flight For Control

***** 

 

"From Blah to Awe" book giveaway

And the winner is.....

Karen Leierer

from Ringwood, Oklahoma

for

The book drawing 

of 

 

"From Blah to Awe"

by Jenna Lucado Bishop

CONGRATULATIONS, KAREN!

From Blah to Awe by Jenna Lucado Bishop

GREAT JOB Jenna Lucado Bishop! This was a wonderful book and I just wish it would have been available as I was raising my daughters! However - I do have 3 beautiful grand daughters!

A description of the book: 
     "You know God loves you, but you don't feel very loved.  From time to time, going to church and reading the Bible seem...well, a little blah.  
       Jenna Lucado Bishop shares her testimony and others' stories to explore what a radical, living relationship with God looks like and how the Bible can help you hunger and thirst for more of God.  You'll discover how to keep your faith fresh and vibrant and alive."

I greatly enjoyed reading this from a Mother/Grandmother's perspective because Jenna talks to girls the way it should be done. She gives encouragement, great tips on having a faith that is real, she's not preachy and she gives you the feeling that she's been there and KNOWS what she's talking about. She uses real life examples that girls will relate to and enjoy reading. This is not a boring book on faith - but one with shoes on it. - It will step into your life and walk around with you.

Jenna Lucado Bishop is the daughter of best-selling author Max Lucado. She has a passion for writing and speaking just like her dad! She has also written "Redefining Beautiful" and is  a part of "The Revolve Tour," which is an event for teen girls. 

Leave a comment about why you might like to read this book or give it as a gift to your daughter, granddaughter, niece or any teen girl in your life and your name will be put into a drawing for a free copy.  The drawing for the free copy will close on Sunday, February 26th at noon. 

Thank you Overture Media/Thomas Nelson for providing a free copy for review process and for give-away. 
http://overture-media.com/

Opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of Cohorn Recollections and are not influenced by outside sources.

*****

Below Stairs by Margaret Powell

Downton Abbey on Masterpiece Theater

As many of you know, I'm a Downton Abbey fan. For my birthday, Holly gave me a book, "Below Stairs: The Classic Kitchen Maid's Memoir That Inspired 'Upstairs, Downstairs' and 'Downton Abbey'".

The book description: "Arriving at the great houses of 1920s London, fifteen-year-old Margaret's life in service was about to begin As a kitchen maid the lowest of the low she entered an entirely new world; one of stoves to be blacked, vegetables to be scrubbed, mistresses to be appeased, and even bootlaces to be ironed. Work started at 5.30am and went on until after dark. It was a far cry from her childhood on the beaches of Hove, where money and food were scarce, but warmth and laughter never were. Yet from the gentleman with a penchant for stroking the housemaids' curlers, to raucous tea-dances with errand boys, to the heartbreaking story of Agnes the pregnant under-parlourmaid, fired for being seduced by her mistress's nephew, Margaret's tales of her time in service are told with wit, warmth, and a sharp eye for the prejudices of her situation. Brilliantly evoking the long-vanished world of masters and servants, Below Stairs is the remarkable true story of an indomitable woman, who, though her position was lowly, never stopped aiming high. 'Enormous gusto, salty humour, wisdom' Evening Standard 'Shrewd, unabashed, wickedly funny, a unique front-line report of her life's experiences' Jack De Manio, BBC"

Had I not been watching Downton Abbey, I'm not sure I would have appreciated this book as much as I did! Powell told it like it was for her. Her writing is very matter of fact. She doesn't sensationalize any of it - her main goal in life was to marry and have a family.

After writing this book she also went on to write "Climbing the Stairs" and "The Treasure Upstairs." Powell became famous as a result of her books.  

When I googled her name I found an interesting article about her HERE

 According to this article she wrote 17 books.

I enjoyed the book and on reading some of her others.

****

Downton Abbey

.

Downton Abbey, Season 2

(to learn more click on this title)

This month I attended my first book club meeting here in Wichita. There are only three of us so far, but it works well for us and we had a good time. During this meeting they told me about a show they watch regularly, Downton Abbey on Masterpiece Theater - on PBS.

I'm not sure how it came about but I found it on my Kindle Fire. Randy and I watched the first show of the first season. We were hooked. So, we proceeded to watch every episode- in a week -  until we caught up. Now we have to wait a week to get a new episode!

I've fallen in love with this show and was doing some 'googling' on it today and ran across this article from The Onion News in Brief - Report: Watching Episode of 'Downton Abbey' Counts As Reading Book (click on this title to read article)

It especially interested me since I love books/reading and I love Downton Abbey. Great article. Hope you will take the time to read it.