Giveaway & Review: Shattered Sky by Helene Young

Title: Shattered Sky

Author: Helene Young

Published: Hachette Febuary 2011

Synopsis: Surviving a missile strike on her aircraft suddenly seems like the easy part for Lauren Bennett. A year after being attacked mid flight, Lauren is sure she’s overcome her guilt at losing a friend in the ensuing crash. Her brittle, glossy veneer doesn’t fool Callam Granger, though. But the naval patrol boat captain knows he’s got no right to an opinion. He wasn’t there when she needed him most and she’s not going to let him forget it.  On a routine surveillance assignment Lauren uncovers an operation trafficking sex slaves. Pursuing the women – and their captors – will take her deep into the Australian outback and a reluctant Callam knows this time he can’t let her go alone. Is it possible for Lauren and Callam to put aside old enmities to outwit, outrun and ultimately out-fly the traffickers? Or will the frantic race to free the women simply ignite their emotions, endangering yet more lives? Read an Excerpt

Status: Read on March 15, 2012 — I own a copy {Courtesy the author}

My Thoughts:

Starting Shattered Sky at just after 1am with the intention of reading only a chapter was, in retrospect, a poor decision when I found myself unable to put it down until I had finished at 4 in the morning. Loosely linked by setting and characters and with all the action, adventure, mystery and romance found in Wings of Fear, Helene delivers an exciting and engaging romantic suspense novel with Shattered Sky.

In Wings of Fear, Lauren Bennett was the likeable supporting character, here she is at the center of the plot. Almost a year has passed since the aborted terrorist attack  and Lauren is still struggling to come to terms with the loss of her close friend and crew mate, Gavin.  This explains her impulsive decision to involve herself in a case of suspected sex slave trafficking as she tries to overcome survivors guilt and prove she is more than the carefree party girl she once was.
Callam Granger was a friend of Gavin’s who made the mistake of condemning Lauren, rather than supporting her, in her grief. Learning he has misjudged the blonde beauty, Callam’s attraction for the feisty pilot overcomes his reticence at becoming involved in a committed relationship. Lauren isn’t just going to forgive and forget though, so the relationship between the two has plenty of conflict.

While I quite like reading the odd romance novel, I need the extra depth that Young delivers with the suspense to become truly engaged in the story. Shattered Sky is a fast paced novel that sucks you in as you soar over the coastline of far north Queensland and traverse dusty roads in the isolated outback. From a daring rescue in cyclonic weather, to a terrifying shoot out with menacing bikies, there is plenty of action that keeps the pages turning, and enough tension to maintain interest throughout. Shattered Sky is an entertaining read and I am looking forward to the release of Burning Lies in July 2012.

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About the Author

Award winning author, Helene Young, grew up thinking everyone read books and invented stories.  Starting school and realising this was not the case was a shock. However, she soon discovered English was her favourite subject and Enid Blyton Mysteries her favourite stories. She may have moved on from the Five Find-Outers and Dog, but she hasn’t lost her love of suspense and intrigue. It was partly that passion for all things adventurous that saw her take to the air as a pilot in 1989. Twenty-three years later she’s now a senior Check and Training Captain with Australia’s largest regional airline and lives in North Queensland.  When she’s not writing, you’ll find her flying Dash 8 aircraft with the best office view in the world. Her contemporary suspense stories are set in wild and wonderful Northern Australia, a landscape just begging to be showcased in novels filled with intrigue and romance. Her first two books, ‘Wings of Fear’ and ‘Shattered Sky’, were released by Hachette Australia. Her third book, Burning Lies is due for release in July 2012 by Penguin Australia. ‘Wings of Fear’ was awarded The Romantic Book of the Year 2011 by the Romance Writers of Australia. It was also voted Favourite Romantic Suspense 2010 by the Australian Romance Readers Association. Shattered Sky has won the honour of being named Favourite Romantic Suspense 2011 by Australian Romance Readers Awards.

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