Bumpy Landings by Donald J. Carey

Bumpy Landings by Donald J. Carey

"All his life, Jordan MacDonald has dreamed of taking flight and soaring above the majestic mountains of his native Hawaii, but he doesn’t dare disobey his mother, who has absolutely forbidden him from flying. Suddenly everything changes when, spurred by the pain of a failed relationship, Jordan begins working toward the coveted pilot’s license. Just as he finds love again, Jordan’s lies start to close in around him, and he soon learns that a life full of dishonesty attracts more turbulence than he’s ever faced in the air.

Set against the exotic backdrop of the Hawaiian islands, this thrilling tale of romance and self-discovery is a perfect vacation from the average love story. Join Jordan as he tests the limits of friendship and finds out just how far his dreams can carry him. Entertaining and engaging, Bumpy Landings will take you to new heights with each turn of the page." (summary from novel backliner"

The author does a good job helping us sympathize with his main character, Jordan, who is fresh off his mission and ready to use the techniques he learned there to become less insecure and shy. He finds varying success as he tries to pursue girls on BYU—Hawaii’s campus. He really is quiet nerdy, and a bit spineless, but is still quite lovable because he tries so hard.

His main antagonist is his mother who forbids him from pursuing his dream of becoming a pilot, and tries to break up his relationships with girls she doesn’t like. She was a rather nasty character, and easy to hate. But Jordon wants her approval and so lies to her about take flying lessons, and stays in a bad relationship far too long as a result.

When he is finally caught in his lies he must face up to what he really wants despite what others may think. Bumpy Landings reads like a typical college romance story, but is made unique by the Hawaiian setting and the fact that is told from the point of view of a male protagonist. The ending did seem a little predictable (it is a romance novel after all.), but the characters are drawn realistically, and you’ll root for them, flaws and all.

I did enjoy reading about Jordan and his challenges; the Hawaiian setting was fun and refreshing, and there was enough conflict in the plot to keep me hooked into the story. Overall, a nice read for those that miss the sunshine, and wish they were out on the beach.

To find out more information about Bumpy Landings visit the Donald Carey's website.