Title: Out of the Blue
Author: Josh Lanyon
Publisher: Liquid Silver
Genre: Historical M/M
Length: Novella
Buy Link: Amazon.com
Rating: 5+ stars out of 5, DIK
THE BLURB
France, 1916. The Great War. High above the carnage in the trenches, British and German aces joust like knights of old for control of the skies. The strain and tension of living every day on the edge of death leads to dangerous choices and wild risks. When British ace Bat Bryant’s past catches up with him, he strikes out in panic and kills the man threatening him with exposure. But there’s a witness: the big, handsome American pilot Cowboy Cooper.
Cowboy, it seems, has his own ideas of rough justice.
Updated 2012 Cover
THE REVIEW
It’s the middle of World War 1 and the Allies are fighting the Germans for supremacy in the skies. The book opens when our flyboy hero, Captain Bat Bryant, accidentally kills Orton, a mechanic on his team who was attempting to blackmail him. Unfortunately there was a witness to the incident, Cowboy Cooper, another flying ace, who demanded his own forfeit from Bat for keeping quiet and getting rid of the body. Two days later Cowboy moved in for the “kill” and Bat never had a chance against someone as sexually experienced as Cowboy who, it appeared, had had his eye on Bat for a while. Bat is still shell shocked, heartbroken and grief stricken because the man with whom he was in love, Gene, another Aviator, had just been shot down and he was finding it difficult to say goodbye even though he knew that his own chances of surviving the war were slim and none.
When Cowboy made love to Bat, to say that Bat was surprised at his reactions during sex was an understatement. He had never been friends with Cowboy and had not had any thoughts about him other than being appreciative that he had saved his life several times by holding off the Germans whenever Bat was in trouble on their many reconnaissance missions. After the first time with Cowboy Bat swore never to let it happen again but Cowboy had that Yankee charm going, and Bat found he was falling more and more under his spell. Suddenly it seemed that this “thing” with Cowboy was becoming a lot less like coersion and a lot more like an affair with tender feelings. Did Bat really see Cowboy’s hold on him as a threat or did he welcome it and use the perceived threat as an excuse because he was finding the sex exciting and erotic, something he had never had with Gene? The fact that death flew on his wings every day obviously intensified Bat’s feelings, but more to the point Cowboy’s charisma was having a significant impact on his emotions, which he hated because it made him seem weak.
I have to say at this point that I read Josh Lanyon’s books mainly for his characters and the mysteries, not for the sex, because he usually has about 2 sex scenes per book and those are almost always pretty tame compared to other M/M books. In Out of the Blue there were several sex scenes between the two protagonists and I thought the author showed quite a different range, with more tenderness and style. In the midst of these little erotic interludes, interspersed with all the excitement and stress of their daily incursions into enemy territory, Bat received some bad news which had the potential of ending his career in disgrace and dishonour – Orton’s body had been found by the French and the evidence of foul play was clear. If he is one of the suspects, will Cowboy fly to his rescue once again?
From the first page I felt part of the action in this story which never let up. Men were dying all around Bat and Cowboy and it seemed that young replacements barely had a chance to experience their first flight before they were history. The average life expectancy of an Allied Aviator was 11 days and no one defied those odds forever – some of the guys were still in their teens when they showed up for their first assignment, and they were dead in less than a week, before they had a chance to grow up and experience life. Bat was just 23 years old but as a Captain of RAF No. 44 Air Squadron he was responsible for his men’s lives and at times his job was a heavy burden. The only member of the group who was confident he would come out of the war alive and return home was the irrepressible Cowboy. Somehow I believed that he would make it.
Have you ever felt so immersed in a book that it seemed you were part of the action? Out of the Blue will have that effect on you. The adrenalin of the suicide flights, the courage displayed by the airmen in rescuing their comrades while under heavy fire, the firefights in the air, the drone of the aircraft, the crashes as planes went down in flames with their pilots still shooting at the enemy, the camaraderie among the pilots – the battles were all too exciting at times!! The era seems to have been accurately described by Lanyon – the music (“Roses of Picardy” was a favourite as the guys sang along with the gramophone), the atmosphere, the clothing, the speech were all wonderfully depicted and there wasn’t anyone who was a caricature. Of all the characters in this book the most remarkable and memorable was Cowboy who made Bat seem like a pale reflection, even though Bat was the captain in charge of this band of flying aces and was just as brave. Cowboy was the outsider since most of the other officers were Brits who had been at Eton together, and if they weren’t old school chums at least they had the facade of class and breeding, and they tended to look down on the American who was not part of their inner circle. The secondary characters were all well drawn but they had so little face time before they bought it that it was difficult to get to know them.
This is such a wonderful story that you will read it again and again and again. Despite its theme of war and death the book is quite funny in parts as well as uplifting.
Great review, Wave. This sounds like a compelling story. But tell me (I am pathetically sentimental) will I be crying all the way through it?
Hi Wren
No you won’t be crying all the way through it. I’m a softie myself (hard to imagine, I know) and the story was quite upbeat despite the theme of war and, of course, death. You will love my favourite, Cowboy and, of course Bat. (I always love the anti heroes – Jake is my fave in the AE Mysteries) *g*
Thanks so much for the first review, Wave. Very much appreciated.
You DO love those anti-heroes, don’t you? (So do I.)*g*
The odds for pilots got even worse when they hit Bloody April in 1917, but surprisingly some did make it through from beginning to end, and I’d like to believe that Bat and Cowboy might have been two of the lads that survived the war.
Hi Josh
Thanks for waking up early:) I thoroughly enjoyed the book and you know how I am about anti heroes – they rock my world.*g* Did I tell you that Prince and the Rolling Stones are two of my fave singing groups? Now those are anti heroes!!
I like to think that Bat and Cowboy made it and that Bat moved to the US to live with Cowboy. That’s my ending and I dare you to make me change it.:)
Historical accuracy is not my forte and I had asked Clare to read over the review to make sure that I got it right but I didn’t bother since I figured you would kick my ass if I didn’t, so who am I to deny you the pleasure?:DDD
I had Clare Brit-check for me. Well, I guess you saw the Thank You to her on the MS. Very grateful for that. Between my 1914 novels and Clare, I feel like I hopefully sort of captured the voices. Not easy voices to capture.
Damn, this sounds good! I look for this quality in fiction that you describe:
“Have you ever felt so immersed in a book that it seemed you were part of the action? Out of the Blue will have that effect on you.”
And I’ve got a serious interest in the First World War, and read all the fiction I can about it. Thanks so much, Wave, for bringing this to my attention!
You did good, fly boy. The voices came through loud and clear. One of the things you do well consistently in your stories is capture the era and atmosphere as well as the dialogue which is realistic without going overboard, and your characters are to die for (guess I shouldn’t say so in this case)*g* Maybe I should have put it in the review – there’s still time for me to update it.
Ha! I try. Nice when someone notices. *g*
oops, laptop hiccuped and I posted twice…LOL
*g*
Okay, Wave, you talked me into it. I, too, am an anti-hero fan. Jake’s a favorite of mine 🙂
Thanks, Wren. ;-D
Hi Val
I’m not a history fan but even I was drawn into the lives of these young men who seemed so real, and the story was so gripping in parts you forgot you were reading a book. I think you will love this book. Let me know after you read it whether my analysis was on the money.:)
Wren
Cowboy will make your blood vessels go “pop,” he’s so hot. It’s a very short story and you will wish there was much more of it because the action is non stop.
Now I am really looking forward to Monday. I’ll read anything by Josh, of course, but American/British officers (and particularly the contrast :)) are of additional interest.
That contrast was probably one of the most fun things about the story, Liade.
Liade
There’s contrast alright. The differences between Cowboy and the other flying aces were captured so well by Josh, yet Cowboy still seemed part of the group even though he was outside the inner circle.
Thanks, Wave. It’s a particularly difficult period to capture — the slang and the calculated personas were reminiscent of the 1960s. And like the ’60s, it sounds very dated and artificial after the fact. So I was working hard to zero in on the humanity, the universality of the characters. I’m relieved you feel it worked.
That contrast between American/British officers would still be there, today. Even if not to quite the same degree, maybe.
So much of that depends on individuals. *g*
Can’t wait to read this!!
Thanks, Davina.
Yum yum yum. I can’t wait. I seem to be in historical-landia and this will fit right in. Thanks for the review, Wave, and Josh for giving us what seems to be another winner.
Thanks Aunt Lynn — as always. And thanks to Wave for fielding all these comments while I wrestle through the day’s projects!
Great review! I can’t wait to read this.
Thanks, Andy!
This sounds like a great story. I love military themed books and movies so I’m sure I’ll love this as well, especially since it’s written by Josh. I just recently saw the movie “Flyboys” with James Franco that was set in WWI France. Great action scenes with bi-planes.
Lisa, I saw that film to. The aerial battle sequences were incredible. I must have watched them ten times. Just amazing.
LOL And the very handsome actors didn’t hurt either. 🙂 I was hooked on this story since you posted the excerpt so really looking forward to it.
This sounds like a great book and it’s one I’ll be snagging pretty quick. That period has fascinated me for a long time – first discovered it via the early ‘Biggles’ books by Capt. W.E. Johns *g*. ‘Biggles and the Camel Squadron’ hooked me as a kid.
Chris, I adore Biggles! Nice to discover another fan. *g*
Thanks for the awesome review! I’ve been waiting for this ever since Josh posted the excerpt, so I’ll probably see if I have the money to snag it after it’s out 😀
Thanks, Jaylin. I appreciate it when people choose to spend their hard-earned cash on my work — I know how it feels to count every penny.
Jaylin
This is a novella so it shouldn’t be expensive -= the price of a cup of java from Starbucks:)
Chris
In one scene Bat wears a long white scarf a la Biggles.:)
Lisa G
If you like military themed books you’ll definitely love the flying airmen.:)
Andy
I think you have a treat waiting for you when you open this book.
Lynn
This is a nice historical adventure around the time of WW1 when everything is going to hell between the Allies and the Germans.
Davina
It’s just a few more days before the book goes on sale. I didn’t want to torture anyone by posting the review too early.*g*
“Have you ever felt so immersed in a book that it seemed you were part of the action? Out of the Blue will have that effect on you.”
This is all I need to know!!! Thanks Wave, for your stamp of approval 🙂
I have to apologise again that I am not reading the review in full at the moment, it makes me nervous! I’ll read the book on Monday and then compare notes with your review 🙂
I loved the way Wave described that — it’s exactly what I tried to capture in this one. I haven’t read a lot of WW1 flying romance.
Sounds great! I’ve read an extract and that was mouthwatering. I’ll probably go for the print anthology version.
The print anthology should be a good one — it’s a great line up of authors and stories.
Eve
Josh approved my review, which means there’s no spoilers. But you can wait until Monday to read it. I hope you agree with me regarding Cowboy, I just love him to bits.:)
Junkfoodmonkey
If you like print then the anthology has some dynamite authors including Samantha Kane, Victor J. Banis, Dick D and George Seaton.
I said last week – only 8 more sleeps, now I’m down to 3.
I’m looking forward to anything new by Josh, but I have a real softspot for wartime stories.
For some reason all my historical stuff seems centered around war. I need to write a western or something.
Hi Liz
This is a wartime story with a vengeance. It starts off with a bang and never lets go of your throat, so beware. If you read Josh’s story in Because of the Brave, this is better.
oooh, I loved Because of the Brave, all three stories just complimented each other so well. I have everything Josh has written and he hasn’t disappointed me yet. So I don’t mind a bit of heart pounding in your throat reading!
I shouldn’t have read this review. Me so jealous of your right now. 😉 “Have you ever felt so immersed in a book that it seemed you were part of the action?” I felt like that while reading the story in Because of the Brave and you say this one is even better. OMG!
Took the day off just for this. Can’t wait for monday morning.
Oh. I hope Liquid Silver releases Sunday night. I don’t know how that works with them. It’s my first LS release. I guess if it releases the 31st that would be on the actual day? Hmmm.
Elyane
I think Out of the Blue is better, but that’s just my personal opinion. Other reviewers might not agree. However, I did feel a part of the action – there were so many characters here and each one had his own vignette. I hope Josh drops by on Monday to see how his book fared after all of you guys had read it.:)
Out of the Blue is twice as long, so that could be one reason — the BotB story was a shortie. Not quite 10K. This was definitely a lot more complicated. At least from a writing perspective.
Great review, Wave.
I’ll be getting it first thing Monday– can’t wait to read it!
I am very envious that you got to read the book early. I love Josh’s stuff and hope that it will be out early in the day Monday!
Thanks, Nichem. Hope you enjoy it.
Great review! This sounds like a very complex story – when I heard the bare bones of it I wasn’t sure it was for me, but you’ve convinced me! 😀
WW1 is one of my favorite periods, but I can see this might not be to everyone’s taste. It’s certainly a dark chapter of history.
JL
You don’t have to love historicals to enjoy this story. The characters are terrific especially my fave, Cowboy, and if you love books with a lot of action you’ll be sitting on the edge of your seat.
Hi Josh and Wave! Thanks for the gracious thanks, Josh – it was a real treat to have a sneak preview of this book and to be able to help. I knew my Brit-ness would work in my favour one day .
As for the book, I enjoyed it most of all of your recent work. The desperation and fragility of that period was well illustrated by the characters and the situation Bat found himself in. Cowboy was the perfect foil – a man accepted as a fellow soldier, yet also different from them in background and attitude. Just the man to draw out Bat as a man rather than an officer gripped by his duty and the rigid mores of that time. I enjoyed the balance of action and relationship in the book, and I loved the tension of the awkward, anguished, liberating passion between Bat and Cowboy.
I loved it! I hope it does really well for you.
Thank you, Clare. This is the second time your Brit-ness has saved the day. *g* Thank you also for the many kind words on this one. If I can return the favor, let me know.
Nichem
If you love this author’s books (and even if you don’t) I think you’ll enjoy Out of the Blue.
Oh, yes, I love Josh’s books. I’ve read everything on his backlist (some more than once), so I’m really excited he has several new books coming out this fall/ winter. I’m especially looking forward to the new Adrien English novel, The Dark Tide, in Dec. I’m a Jake lover too. 🙂
Wave: Ooo…I can’t wait for the blood vessels to pop over Cowboy!
Josh: Re: Jake. Yeah. Love him. Just don’t tell Kris, okay?
Your secret is safe, Wren. Besides, I don’t think Kris would believe such a SCANDALOUS revelation. *g*
Deluded. All of you.
Kris
Most of us think that Jake is really hot.:) Maybe it’s you that’s out of the AE loop? *g*
Considering the fact that I adore Adrien, I don’t think that argument works. Instead, I like to think I’m one of the few people in the world that recognise Jake for the fuckhead that he is. 🙂
Wave: great review. Josh … I don’t buy anthologies as a rule. I loved it when your Vol 1 & 2 came out and I had so much to catch up on. I guess I will be in for a bit of a wait for this huh? At least Strange Fortune is coming in December in print I believe you stated on your blog : )
Lisa S. C.
Hey there, Lisa. Yes, I’m afraid there will be a longer wait for the next JL Collection, but then again, anticipation is part of the fun. (I hope.)
Thanks for the great review Wave. Can’t wait for Monday. I’ve read everything that Josh has written and am never disappointed. He writes the best dialog – so good that it almost doesn’t matter what the characters do.
Jeez, thanks TJ. That’s a really nice thing to say.
Hi T.J
I try to write reviews from the readers’ perspective in terms of what I would look for in a book, and sometimes it works out that the authors like the review as well.:) Glad you liked what I had to say about OOTB and I really hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.
I can’t wait to read this one. I love historicals, but WWI isn’t an era I see much of. In fact, I can’t think of any WWI-era stories I’ve read in the past few years…
Cassie, I agree. Certainly in this genre, I’m having trouble thinking of any WW1 romances. At least not during the war itself — maybe afterwards?
Wonderful review! Wasn’t going to read it at first, since I try not to read spoilers, but couldn’t help myself! Whew! Love the extra, without the spoilers….
Sure glad you did wait to post it Wave! I like the way you think! LOL
I love the sharp, clear, wonderful way Josh has with words….to date, my personal favorites are Mexican Heat (I know! I know! a duet!*g*)and Adrian, with all the rest a close second!
Can’t wait for this one, and super happy it’s longer then BOTB–which I loved.
Good Luck with this one Josh!
Hi Dzlynn
I’m happy that the review worked for you. I try very hard not include spoilers which is difficult when you write long reviews like I do, but somehow they all work out.
Mexican Heat is one of my favourite books. It got Honourable Mention on my blog last year. Of course the AE books are classics.:)
P.S. Can’t resist ‘The Dark Horse’ either! So there’s 3 in the lead neck-n-neck!
Just wanted to add the excerp for OOTB hooked me the first time I read it, (and the several times since then) and I am really looking forward to reading it.
Thanks. Dzlynn. I’m very fond of Dark Horse too. Maybe because it was my first deliberate try at m/m?
I already planned to buy “Out of the Blue” and your review confirmed for me that this will be another story to add to my favorites from Josh.
You asked “Have you ever felt so immersed in a book that it seemed you were part of the action?”, and I would have to answer YES, which is why I am a fan of anything Josh Lanyon.
Thank you, Stacy. That’s really, really kind of you.
Hi Stacy
I hope you enjoy the book. I like this writer’s stories and this is, I think, one of his best.
Kris
I believe that Jake is planning a visit to Oz and he has your home address. Will you slam the door on all that hotness, I wonder?
He’s…on….the…fiiiiiiiirst step….Kriiiiiis… (are you scared?)
Jesus. No wonder I couldn’t sleep last night. You two were both sending me arsehole-Jake-vibes in my friggin’ sleep!
Please count me in
Kris
“arsehole-Jake-vibes”? What kind of talk is that for a lady? I was hoping you could be friends with Jake because he has heard so much about you and from you:) I hope the visit went well and that you’re friends now.
1. Can’t say I’ve ever ben accused of being a lady before.
2. You do realise that Jake is not a RL person, but a fictional character, right? Or are your delusions that bad already??
Fictional? You mean he’s not real? My heart is broken.:)
Is it Monday, yet? It starts at midnight but I see they give themselves a 7 P.M. window. What a strange day for introductions of new releases. Why not Fridays so more readers/customers have time to purchase, download and read on the weekend. And why isn’t ‘Lanyon’ included in the alphabetical author’s listing despite it being a new release. There were already over 1,700 inquiries on the ‘Coming soon’ entry if you knew enough to look there for it.
Anyway, “Dawn Patrol” is a personal favorite and Josh’s writing should make for a wonderful story from this period.
Hi Animas
Monday is only a few hours away. I know that Liquid Silver usually gives themselves a window of 7.00 PM because I have been frustrated whenever I’m waiting for one of their new releases. Let’s hope Josh doesn’t crash their system like he did once for Loose Id, although he swears it wasn’t his fault.:)
I’m looking at LSB’s website and ARe but it seems the book still ain’t out for sale yet. 🙁 It’s Monday here but, I can’t quite figure out the time zone conversion. *sweats* Maybe I should just wait for a day. ^.^;
Great review and I look forward to being sucked in to the story since I enjoy historicals.
phnn
As I mentioned to someone else earlier, Liquid Silver releases its new books at 7.00 P.M. or close to that time in the Eastern time zone so you probably won’t see it until midnight if you live in Europe.
Joder
I really think you will enjoy this book. I couldn’t put it down.
It’s finally on sale now.
Enjoy the book all of you rabid fans.:)
my belated thank for your review. I just finished the story and agree wholeheartedly to your comment of it. It’s a story to be lost into; to be transported to that era. and oh yes, the sex scenes feel different… it’s not a matter of better or worse, I’ve always like how Josh writes his sex scenes, but in this story, the love scenes carry a great sense of urgency and helplessness in it, which fits the situation they were in perfectly.
I think I have to reread it again already 🙂
Hi Eve
I’m so happy that you agree with the review. This book is a marvellous imaginative historical piece which is a testament to the men who fought so bravely. Oh yes, and the sex in the book was a change of pace for Josh – tender with a sense of urgency – different from his usual style. I have already re-read my copy and will probably do so again this weekend.:)
Another winner from Josh. Cowboy… Need I say more. 😉
Totally agree with your review.
Elyane
Thank you. My fave, Cowboy, wins hands down. Too bad Josh can’t come up with another book starring Cowboy and Bat, but that’s too much to ask for.:)