The Four Corners of the Sky by Michael Malone

I really need to BUY a book and read it for once.  "The Four Corners of the Sky" was yet another free Friday selection from Barnes and Noble on my nook.  I just can't say no to a free book. (I mean really, who can?).  And when they turn out to be as good as this one, it just makes it that much more tempting to download the next one.  Now that I think about it, all of this e-book stuff is going to seriously hurt my income at the next garage sale, but I guess I won't worry about that now.

I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out the novel told the story of Lt. Annie Peregrine, Navy pilot.  I always like to be able to relate to something about the main character and even though I am not a pilot, I AM quite familiar with the military.  I'm more of an Army girl, but at least I could hang with most of the terminology.  Couple that with the fact that it is set in parts of North Carolina (where I used to live) and Maryland (where I currently live) and this shapes up to be even more of a winner. 

As a pilot married to another pilot, Annie finds her marriage on the rocks.  Unfortuantely, she hasn't had the best childhood and her relationship with her father is also on the rocks.  Never fear!  Her aunt and uncle (they aren't married, but are just friends that live together...it's confusing but it works) have served as her parents since the age of 7.  Her father, a known hustler, thief, and all-around mischief maker floats in and out of her life and always seems to step back in at just the wrong moment.  The book takes Annie from the brink of divorce to achieveing never-dreamed-of- before career aspirations to honoring the last wishes of her dying father, and secretly hoping that he will finally reveal who her real mother is.  She is a faithful daughter, niece, wife, friend and pilot.  I want to be like her when I grow up.

Michael Malone served up some really beautiful relationships in this book.  Annie and her friend Georgette are how every girl and her BFF should be.  Annie's Aunt Sam relishes her role as a sort of surrogate mother and her Uncle Clark is undoubtedly her biggest fan.  In return, her love for them is so real it is heartbreaking.  The most special relationship though, is that of Annie and her father.  He loves her more than I think he knows, which scares him and saddens her.  When she finally finds and meets her birth mother, their relationship is pretty special too. 

I recommend this book for many reasons.  It may sound conflicted and busy, but it all comes together in a nice little package by the end.  I promise.  The author does a fantastic job at taking the time to let the characters develop, but not in a way that gets tiresome.  I have been known to get a bit antsy waiting for the author to "get to it," but not with this book.  (I think I deserve a cyber pat on the back for that, by the way).  And if you like aviation, this will suit you too.  Annie and her dad, Jack,  share a love of flying which becomes central to the book and their relationship as well.

Like I said, I liked it.  You can decide for yourself,  here . While you are doing that, I will be reading the next free offering on my nook.  Or sorting things for the next garage sale.  Try not to be jealous.