Rachel Scott McDaniel

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Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books with Pilot Main Characters

It’s another Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl!

Today’s official topic is a Genre Freebie! Thanks to the book I’m currently reading, Claire Holloway is Winging It, I’m inspired to do spin on this topic with less of a genre focus and more of a character focus. My list features main characters whose profession includes piloting airplanes! These span genres and settings from early 1900s to today, but they all include a bit of romance in the storyline. Some of them are still on my TBR 🙂

It’s interesting to see these covers all together. Some clearly feature an airplane or indicate a pilot’s presence in the story, others don’t.

10 Books with Pilot Main Characters

Beyond the Clouds by Elizabeth Camden

Claire Holloway is Winging It by Angela Ruth Strong | My current read, featuring a pilot hero and a flight attendant heroine!

All of You by Sarah Monzon

The Aviator’s Lady by Gabrielle Meyer

High as the Heavens by Kate Breslin

Walking on Hidden Wings by Rachel Scott McDaniel

On Wings of Devotion by Roseanna M. White

The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin

Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe by Carla Laureano

Wild Montana Skies by Susan May Warren

How did you participate in the freebie TTT this week? Have you read any of these stories? Do you have a penchant for reading about a certain profession?

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Review: “About Last Christmas” by Rachel Scott McDaniel

October starts my favorite quarter of the year — all the fall and Christmas things! So, I was perfectly in the mood to read this new book by Rachel Scott McDaniel: About Last Christmas. A contemporary story is a new subgenre for Rachel, whose historical tales I have enjoyed.

About the Book

She’s trying to avoid a holiday disaster. He’s trying to earn his way off her naughty list. Both need a Christmas Miracle.

Greta Carlton is beautifully content running her antique shop in the snow-globe town of Silver Creek, sipping vanilla gingerbread lattes, and staying clear of drama. But a whirlwind encounter with a handsome stranger leads to a whimsical evening, stirring her heart to believe in movie-style romance. That is, until Leo disappears into thin (and snowy) air. Ten months later, he walks into her shop like the Ghost of Christmas Last, needing a favor.

She’s still mad.
He’s still charming.

Greta doesn’t have time for men with dimpled grins and the proclivity for vanishing. She’s got her own holiday project with an approaching deadline. Though the more she learns about Leo, the more she realizes he’s the only thing standing between her and a Christmas catastrophe. They agree to help each other reach their holiday goals. As they untangle feelings as stubborn as knotted Christmas lights, Greta wonders if second chances are like antiques—unexpected, imperfect, and everything you didn’t know you were looking for.

About Last Christmas is a sweet holiday romance wrapped in witty banter, heartfelt twists, and the dreamy thrill of finding love in the glow of twinkling lights.

Review

About Last Christmas has a damsel in distress, snow, sledding, tree-trimming, and twinkle light kisses. A balance of humor and community and sweatpants. It also has a charming (or comically deranged, depending on your sense of humor — which I mean in the most complimentary way) setting for the “only one bed” trope. Elements of healing and understanding are a significant part of Greta’s journey I appreciated, themes that overflow into all of her relationships.

In the story, the tiniest details come full circle! My favorite aspects are similar to things I happen to love about McDaniel’s historical novels, too: WIT and a strong sense of identity for the characters. The story is told entirely from Greta’s first-person POV, a viewpoint that allows Leo to play the hero with a smart, enigmatic, and selfless charm. The romance is set up with a hilarious meet-cute and extends to a second chance situation that allows for some mystery, sweet tension, and fantastic grand gestures.

My thanks to the publisher for the ebook review copy. This is my honest review.

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Top Ten Tuesday: Romance Tropes

It’s another Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl!

Today’s official topic is a Love Freebie for the upcoming Valentine’s Day. I’ve decided to feature romances that handle a few specific tropes VERY well! Instead of gravitating to my normal favorite, the marriage of convenience, I have decided to list some other tropes I enjoy when they are well-developed. These are the second chance romance trope, the friends-t0-lovers dynamic, and the lesser written married romance/reconciliation trope.

Romance Tropes

A Heart Adrift cover with heroine, flowers, and a ship in the distance

Second Chance Romance

Julia Monroe Begins Again by Rebekah Millet | Review

London Tides by Carla Laureano | Review

A Heart Adrift by Laura Frantz | Review

Friends to Lovers

Cole and Laila are Just Friends by Bethany Turner | Review

A Match for Emma by Pepper Basham | Review

The Lily of Ludgate Hill by Mimi Matthews | Review

Married Romance/Reconciliation

The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan | Review

The Winged Tiara by J’nell Ciesielski | Review still pending!

Walking on Hidden Wings by Rachel Scott McDaniel | Review

High as the Heavens by Kate Breslin | Review

What kind of “love” books did you share for TTT this week? Have you read any of these stories? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

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Review: “Something Borrowed” Novella Collection

Thanks for stopping by! I’m sharing a review of a historical romance novella collection today, each set in a different 20th century wartime era in NYC. This collection features stories by authors Rachel Scott McDaniel, Allison Pittman, and Susie Finkbeiner.

About the Book

In this brand-new novella collection, three renowned Christian historical fiction authors trace generations of wartime romances through a special wedding dress with love sewn into its seams.

“A Heart in Disguise” by Rachel Scott McDaniel

Clara Westlake loves her job as a seamstress in the US “Camouflage Corps,” sewing suits for snipers and contributing to the war effort. But when she overhears a threat against her beloved New York City, the Great War comes too close to home–except no one believes her forewarning. She must recruit Marcus Reeves, a childhood friend searching for his purpose after suffering a devastating war injury. As they search for answers together, they may also uncover a love that lasts.

“A Letter to Eli” by Allison Pittman

Bette and Alice are lifelong friends, trying to make a good life for themselves in New York City while World War II rages. It’s never far away from their thoughts–not with Alice’s fiancé serving at sea, in danger every minute. That’s a worry Bette doesn’t envy. Then a secret letter reunites her with her soldier ex-boyfriend, now wounded and back in the States. But can the innocent love these two had before the war be rekindled in the face of tragedy?

“A Daffodil in the Dress” by Susie Finkbeiner

Kate Becker and Ike Finch have worked together at his family’s bookstore since Kate’s husband died in the early days of the Vietnam War. She has her daughter, Eloise, to take care of and bills to pay, and this job was a godsend. A second love is not in the cards, especially not with the world still teetering on the edge of insanity. But when Ike brings little Eloise special flowers one spring day, Kate begins to look at him as more than an employer. Is falling in love again worth the risk?

Goodreads | Amazon

Review

The Something Borrowed novella collection tells three romance stories all threaded with wartime and sacrifice and a unique dress that binds them together. The dress connects them in a surprising way, a bit nontraditional in its origin, acquisition, and presence as a motif, which I really loved. While collections like this usually have a standout favorite story for me, I can’t pick a favorite in this particular collection because I enjoyed and was impressed by each story for different reasons.

A Heart in Disguise by Rachel Scott McDaniel is a second-chance, WWI era romance with a little intrigue and real-life stateside homefront happenings. The second chance establishes a history and dynamic between the leads, which also show admirable growth through the story.

In A Letter to Eli, author Allison Pittman shows off her engaging authorial voice. This is a captivating, page-turning WWII era story, also a second chance romance with a delightful letter element. I appreciated how the leads showcase memories of youthful days balanced with the weight of conflict and present concerns.

A Daffodil in the Dress by Susie Finkbeiner sweetly uses tropes that feel organic to the characters. This story is about a widowed mother with a darling little girl, Eloise, who happens to work in a bookshop. And, it’s a workplace romance between Kate and her tenderhearted boss, Ike. In a similar vein to the second chance stories earlier in the novella, these two characters have an established respect and professional friendship. Seeing it blossom to a realization of love — through a particularly humorous dinner occasion, too — is a treat.

My thanks to the authors and Kregel publishers for the review copy. This is my honest review.

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Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Recommended BLUE Books

It’s another Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl!

I am late (today, at least) with getting together my TTT list, but I saw friends posting with this prompt and had to join in! Today’s official topic is Books with My Favorite Color on the Cover. Since I have a nice GREEN book list from a few years ago, I thought I’d feature my second-favorite color here: BLUE. These have mountains, stars, water, and all the pretty designs I like to see on covers (especially the gold accents on several of them!). I’ve read every book on this list and can recommend them in their respective genres.

Bonus: I made a list recently of lovely PINK covers that caught my eye.

1o Recommended BLUE Books

Walking on Hidden Wings by Rachel Scott McDaniel | historical romance/mystery with marriage of convenience, 1920s

Pretty Little Pieces by Carmen Schober | contemporary romance with a DIY celebrity

What the Mountains Remember by Joy Callaway | historical fiction set in Appalachia, 1910s

The Brilliance of Stars by J’Nell Ciesielski | historical WWI romance with spies

Under Scottish Stars by Carla Laureano | contemporary romance with a single mom heroine & Skye setting

Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes | dual timeline historical & contemporary fiction, New England & WWII feature

The Weight of Air by Kimberly Duffy | historical romance, 1910s circus

The White Feather Murders by Rachel McMillan| historical mystery (lady sleuths!) & romance with Canadian 1910s setting

Mark of Distinction by Jessica Dotta | middle book in the most epic historical romance trilogy

The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews | historical Victorian romance with all the Beauty & the Beast vibes

What color did you pick for TTT this week? Have you read any of these stories? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

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Blog Tour & Review: “Walking on Hidden Wings” by Rachel Scott McDaniel

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Walking on Hidden Wings by Rachel Scott McDaniel hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! I’m sharing a review today followed by info for the tour-wide giveaway. Be sure to enter before you go!

About the Book

Title: Walking on Hidden Wings: A Novel of the Roaring Twenties
Author: Rachel Scott McDaniel
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: April 23, 2024
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Geneva Ashcroft Hayes’s marriage to a newspaper mogul might have been arranged, but the New York socialite is devastated when her husband’s plane crashes a few short months after their nuptials. When the authorities suspect murder, Geneva sets out on a wild mission to find his killer–and to prove it wasn’t her!

When mysterious notes surface pointing to Geneva’s guilt in his death, they only strengthen her resolve. She has little to go on except for a detective friend’s cryptic list of locations connected to her dead spouse. When the friend also disappears, she trades her sparkling gowns for coveralls and pilot goggles.

Armed with a new name and career as a wingwalker and barnstormer, she travels from town to town in hopes of unearthing clues and locating her missing friend. But Geneva discovers that her past may not belong to her . . . what she once believed as truth may be nothing more than lies and deception.

“A tangled web, a sleuthing adventure, a rekindled romance . . . Walking on Hidden Wings has it all.” –Rachel Fordham, author of The Letter Tree

“Fans of intelligent mysteries, butterfly-inducing romance, and the Roaring Twenties, prepare yourselves–Walking on Hidden Wings will sweep you away to the skies! McDaniel’s lyrical prose is a delight, and readers will be fascinated by the daring beginnings of aviation. A true gem.” –Joanna Barker, author of A Heart Worth Stealing

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Bookshop | BookBub

Review

An automatic “favorites list” addition, Walking on Hidden Wings exhibits everything I love about the inspy/historical romance genre and the marriage of convenience trope. What begins as an engaging mystery soon transforms into an adventurous, high-stakes romance — and the high stakes come in the form of a missing friend, an aviation accident (or is it sabotage?), and the subterfuge of a 1920s social ladder.

Author Rachel McDaniel has a prose-like style that fills the story with wonder in its details: in the flying stunts, sisterly devotion, a heroine out of her comfort zone in the country, a protective and empowering hero, and a thrilling romance. Speaking of romance, the narrative has smartly penned flashback chapters amidst “current” angsty tension that tell the origins of the romance and marriage of convenience situation Geneva navigated. This brings life-altering secrets and themes of reconciliation and hope to the forefront. Most impressive in this story framing and narrative is how every single detail of the characters’ lives matters and satisfyingly comes full circle.

Fans of ultra-romantic historical marriages of convenience like Rachel McMillan’s The London Restoration or books by Mimi Matthews should give Walking on Hidden Wings a space on their TBRs.

Thank you to the publisher and Just Read Tours for the review copy. This is my honest opinion. I also purchased a final copy of the ebook for my collection.

Rachel Scott McDaniel

Rachel Scott McDaniel is an award-winning author of historical romance. Winner of the ACFW Genesis Award and the RWA Touched By Love award, Rachel infuses faith and heart into each story. She currently enjoys life in Ohio with her husband and two kids.

Connect with Rachel by visiting rachelmcdaniel.net to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of the book plus book-related extras!

Walking on Hidden Wings JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 1, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on May 8, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Click HERE to Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

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Review: “Above the Fold” by Rachel Scott McDaniel

Above the Fold happens to be the first book I finished reading in 2020 & it’s set in the “roaring” 1920s! 🙂

About the Book

After losing the love of her life to a big city journalism job, Elissa Tillman pours herself into the suffragette movement and her secretarial work helping keep her father’s Pittsburgh newspaper afloat.

Cole Parker returns to the steel city with the phantom failures of his past nipping his heels. All he asks of the future is a second chance with the woman he once spurned.

The murder of a millionaire offers the perfect chance for Elissa to prove to her father and the world that she’s a serious journalist. But there’s a catch—she has to compete for the story. Against none other than Cole Parker, the very man who shattered her heart.

Goodreads | Amazon

Review

Above the Fold is a fun and romantic debut from author Rachel Scott McDaniel! It has everything one would want in a 1920s tale: snappy dialogue, a thrilling mystery to investigate, a competition between rival formerly-romantically-entangled reporters, swoony romance, and deeply expressed themes of forgiveness, unconditional love, and a heavenly Father who never forsakes.

Reading a historical novel like this with simultaneous fun and light banter backed by some serious themes is a rare treat! Elissa and Cole come to life on the page as they spar (a la His Girl Friday) while some serious sparks fly! I appreciated the ways the reality of women’s changing independence and roles in the workforce in this era were depicted and kindly handled by most of the male figures in the story (we have to have a few villains, you know). Cole, especially, understands Elissa in the sweetest way and just wants her to realize it.

I was impressed with many aspects of this story, but one in particular I loved was the way it depicted 1920s Pittsburgh with its busy streets, industry, battles with Prohibition and speakeasies, and the exciting and daring life of those in the news business. Vivid depiction of setting is something that seems to come naturally to Rachel’s pen.

Thank you to Just Read Tours for the review copy of this novel. This is my honest review.