Such a fascinating story!

When Nancy Harkness flew in an airplane for the first time, she knew her life would never be the same. She dreams of being of being a pilot though never thought she would use her new passion to aid in the war effort after Pearl Harbor. When Nancy sees a need for women pilots on the home front to ferry planes to their destinations, she fights to create a squadron of women pilots and refuses to give up even in the face of setbacks and prejudices.

What you'll love:
based on a true story
strong, determined heroine
WWII
sweet romance
unsung heroes
vivid historical setting
endearing friendships
inspirational message

I love books that make me feel, inspire me, and teach me all at the same time, and Lady Fly is definitely one of those.

This was such a captivating story of a woman who was a pioneer of women in aviation. Nancy's courage and determination in spite of a society that was not ready to accept women in the cockpit was truly inspirational!! She wasn't interested in fame or fortune or power; she simply wanted to help the war effort using her unique skills.

I loved the sweet romance between her and Bob (that meet cute!!), who was also a pilot (if only all the men at the time could have been as supportive and forward thinking about women's roles as Bob) as well as the deep friendships she had with other women pilots. Those connections and relationships brought so much heart to the story.

I appreciated the glossary at the front for help with the acronyms and technical terms, and I highly recommend reading the author's notes at the end - they were fascinating and added another layer of understanding.

If you enjoy true stories of unsung heroes who fight against the odds, then this book is for you! I truly could not put it down, nor could I stop myself from searching the internet after I finished in order to learn more about the history of women in aviation. This book was so well done and I look forward to reading it again!

TW: deaths of airplane pilots (may be described but nothing on page)

I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Feminist Literature, WWII Literature
Spice Level: Kissing. The book focuses on flying, not romance.

LADY FLYER is the incredible story of Nancy Harkness Love, her efforts to help women earn their right to fly in the service of their country, and to receive equal treatment.

This is a stunning novel. There is an enormous amount of back matter so all the fact checkers will be happy. I'm impressed with how the author kept so true to the facts.

Sensitive topics are handled with care—such as when Japanese Americans were put into camps. Nancy doesn't understand the action and that helps us as the reader when we know that was a bad decision.

The push-back the women pilots faced from every direction was overwhelming. Military leaders, the families of male pilots, and even disagreements among the female pilots added to the turmoil. Toward the end, one leader tells the women their work will be remembered. But is it? I never heard about how integral women pilots were on the home-front during WWII. They lived to fly and aid their country, and they received nothing from the military—no honors, no medals, no pay, and no death benefits. It's so discouraging that women are still fighting for equality in the workplace.

If you love historical novels or WWII, this is the perfect novel for you.

Happy reading!

This is a fictionalized biography of Nancy Harkness Love, one of the first women pilots and pivotal in getting women allowed to ferry planes in the US during WWII. Nancy was impatient and always pushing to do more, which is what made her so successful. She didn't take 'no' for an answer, but was reasonable and rational and willing to look for another way to achieve her goals. She succeeded and built her career at the same time as the possibly more famous Jackie Cochrane, who was pivotal in the effort to get women admitted to the military. A lot of history books say that the two women intensely disliked each other and considered each other to be rivals. While it seems apparent that the two women didn't particularly like each other, they were both willing and able to work together to accomplish their similar goals. This was such an interesting book and author Heather B. Moore made what could have been a boring biography feel fresh and alive. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Lady Flyer is a compelling read that is no doubt historical fiction at its best.

The book is well researched (understatement) and is the inspiring story of women pilots fight to be equal with their male counterparts.

Nancy Harkness has a love of flying at the age of 16 which ultimately will lead her into her passion to change the rules for women's pilots .

WW2 has started and Nancy and her colleagues realize there is a great need to transport planes for the military which will free up the men for duty.

The battle is a long one and hard one with a few steps forward then many back but the women will not be deterred.

It is more than just Nancy's story; it is the story of all the women who gave up their homes, some their lives to serve their country all the while fighting against the status quo.

Although I knew there were women pilots in the War , I had no idea of their struggle to become officially recognized with the same benefits of their male counterparts.

Heather B Moore takes the reader on a journey that is unforgettable .

Please take time to read the author's notes at the end of the book , they are fascinating.

Lady Flyer will be a Book Club pick no doubt.

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing/Shadow Mountain for the privilege of reading and reviewing Lady Flyer.

History can be more fascinating than fiction and Heather B. Moore masterfully combines the two in LADY FLYER. Miss Lucy Harkness was a real person and a pioneer of women’s aviation. She received her pilot’s license as a teen and during WWII advocated and led programs (WAFS and WASPS) that allowed female pilots to ferry airplanes for the army. As well as training more women to be pilots. She faced a lot of sexism (women weren’t allowed to fly during their menstrual cycles), but continued to lead by example. I loved all of the historical details, but my favorite parts were the romance between Nancy and Bob Love. A must read for historical fiction fans.

Other recommended books about female pilots during WWII: FLYGIRL by Sherri L. Smith and AMONG THE RED STARS by Gwen C. Katz.

In LADY FLYER, HEATHER B MOORE tells the story of Nancy Love, her love fot flying and her enormous contribution towards the American war effort. Her story is told with sensitivity, making Nancy come alive to us in this well researched and interesting book. I especially like to see her extremely happy marriage to Bob Love, his support for her and her dreams, and her friendship and support for her women pilots.
This is not a quick and easy novel but it is a well written and very worthwhile read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Shadow Mountain Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

As an avid reader of historical fiction that celebrates strong female protagonists, I enjoyed Heather B. Moore's Lady Flyer. The book centers around Nancy Love, a real-life trailblazer who defied societal norms by becoming a pilot during the 1930s, and using those skills to support the war effort. Nancy's unwavering determination to use her skills and the skills of countless other female pilots in the war effort is truly inspiring. The research in this book is evident, and following the links in the Chapter Notes further enhances the storyline.

Moore meticulously captures the details of the era, including the technical aspects of flight. This attention to detail may come across as bordering on non-fiction at times, but the author cleverly mitigates this by including a glossary of acronyms and even a list of characters. Both proved invaluable resources during my reading journey. Women had to fight for everything we have, and Nancy Love was no different. She was a champion for women in a heavily male-dominated field.

The book's historical grounding is further enhanced by starting each chapter with quotes or excerpts from primary sources. However, a few instances of phrasing slipped in that wouldn't have been used during that time period. Additionally, the writing style in the main story felt a bit choppy at times, with some repetitive phrasing and overly-familiar dialogue detracting from the narrative flow. Interestingly, the Aftermath and Chapter Notes sections displayed a much smoother and engaging writing voice. On further improvement could be to include a glossary of terms, so one doesn't need to have a dictionary handy when reading.

Despite these shortcomings, Lady Flyer sent me down a fascinating rabbit hole into the world of early 20th-century flight history. I learned a tremendous amount about Nancy Love and the struggles female pilots faced during World War II. While the writing style could be more polished, the book's historical significance and its inspiring message about perseverance make it a worthwhile read for anyone interested in aviation history or stories of women defying the odds.

Wow! I learned so much in this book, in such a positive way! What a rock star Nancy Love was, what a go getter! Her enthusiasm for flying was amazing! And her devotion and sacrifice for her country is inspiring.

This is well written, the story follows along so smoothly. I love being able to read about someone, their ups and downs, and their friendships and heartaches. This book flowed very easily, I never felt lost in the storyline.

I loved the history I learned. My husband is an airplane buff, but I just listen. I will now look more intentionally at the numerous air museums for WASP and WAFS displays.

#LadyFlyer #NetGalley

Nancy Harkness found herself fascinated with airplanes at the age of fifteen. That fascination turned into a determination to learn how to fly. In a day when women pilots were looked down on, Nancy had the grit to make her own way. When the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor and the United. States enter the war the women are called upon to help ferry planes across American soil. Although the women pilots were not military and didn't enter the fight, they helped in many ways on the home front. This book has many characters but is told in Nancy's voice from a young girl to meeting her husband, Bob Love, who was also a pilot, to all of the flights in between. This book gives a voice to the women pilots and what they went through both the hard and the good.