Flying Over Alaska

I am betting that you took a double take at the title of this post.  No, I have never been to Alaska and at this current time I do not plan to get on an airplane again.  My feet were meant to stay close to the ground and I value my hearing too much to try another airborne adventure. 

This post is about a series of books that I have read by author that I recently discovered Bonnie Leon.  The Alaskan Sky Series is composed of three separate books: Touching The Clouds, Wings of Promise, and Joy Takes Flight.  I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this series.  The adventures that lie within the pages drew me into the stories.

Touching The Clouds is the first book of the series.  The main character is Kate Evans, a free spirited farm girl from Washington State.  The year is 1935 and Kate is looking for herself through an adventure of a lifetime.  She ditches her finance and her planned future that by all accounts is safe to head to Alaska to become a bush pilot.  Kate flies her Bellanca Pacemaker named Fearless Kate to Anchorage looking for work.  She finds friendship and adventure in the most unexpected places in a land where female pilots are a rarity and everyone has a secret to hide.  This book reminds me of the pioneering spirit of Amelia Earhart. 

Wings of Promise is the second book of the series.  This book picks up a few months after the first book left off and about 18 months after we first met Kate.  She is an established bush pilot loved and respected by many.  What I liked most about this particular book is that it addressed our fears in that when something bad or tragic happens we are too scared to continue, to live our lives without fear, and we run from the things we love.  It is hard to overcome personal tragedy and once Kate uncovers and faces her fears it provides a freedom like she has never known.  P.S.- Amelia Earhart and her around the world flight is mentioned in this book.

Joy Takes Flight is the last book of the series.  This last book picks up another few months down the road from the second book.  The year is 1938 and Kate is entering into uncharted waters trying to maintain her freedom of flying the open skies while balancing marriage and other aspects of wedded bliss.  How will her choices affect her and those she loves?  Adventures awaits around every corner in this last book of the series.  I was a bit disappointed at the open ending.  I guess I expected a bit more finality that what the author provided, but such is life. 

Overall, this is a great series.  There are so many juicy points and story hooks that I want to delve into, but I do not want to give anything away.  The secondary characters are just as vivid as the primary characters.  This is definitely an amazing journey that you will need to read yourself.