UP CLOSE AND DANGEROUS by Linda Howard
Linda Howard's latest novel UP CLOSE AND DANGEROUS is a fun book to read. It has a little romance, a little mystery, and a little drama. Just enough of all these elements to make it entertaining and enjoyable.
At the center of the plot of the story is Bailey Wingate. She is a rich widow left with the responsibility of keeping control of the trust funds left to her late husband's two children. Both of these two hate having their stepmother hold such power over their money.
Bailey is happy when it comes time for her to leave for a vacation with her brother and his wife. She and Cam Justice take off in a private plane for Denver. Cam is her pilot and is thought to be one of the best. Bailey does not find him to be particularly friendly and Cam thinks Bailey is aloof and cold. The trip from Seattle to Denver is supposed to be routine but once over the mountains the engine on the plane sputters and stops. Then the plane crashes.
The rest of the book concerns how Bailey and Cam survive. It is full of information about the intelligence of these two and the things they will do in order to beat the odds and make it out alive. It also is a tale of two people falling in love in a compressed time.
There isn't anything particularly unique about this book but somehow Howard makes these two characters appealing and involving. You can almost predict the outcome of all that is happening, but that is almost. There are a few surprises thrown in for good measure.
Howard's forte is an engaging plot, lead characters who are enjoyable, and good dollops of heart and humor. The words spoken by her characters are natural and not forced, which makes them identifiable to the readers.
UP CLOSE AND DANGEROUS is not going to win any awards. It isn't that type of story. But it is one that will entertain Howard's many fans and also win her some new ones.
For a few hours of pure reading pleasure, you could do much worse than UP CLOSE AND DANGEROUS. Howard is a skilled writer and knows the type of stories her fans enjoy. This one certainly fills that bill.
UP CLOSE AND DANGEROUS is published by Ballantine Books. It contains 327 pages and sells for $25.95.