Claire Holloway is Winging It draws on Angela Ruth Strong’s own experiences as a flight attendant, which only adds to the appeal.
After all, didn’t we all want to be a flight attendant (or air hostess) at some point?
True story: I used to work for a recruitment company, and we once received over 12,000 applications when we advertised for airline cabin crew. That was back in the day when everyone posted paper applications, so processing those applications was quite literally all hands on deck to read each application, score them based on a very narrow set of parameters (we had so many applicants that they had to score 10/10 before we could even consider them for an interview), then sent literally thousands of actual paper letters to the thousands we couldn’t even interview).
Anyway, back Claire Holloway is Winging It …
After injury forces Claire to give up her dream career in ballet, she trains as a fight attendant and moves to a “crash pad” in Seattle to take up her first role. That was my first big surprise—eight women crammed into a two-bedroom apartment. How is that even legal? And as for tipping flight attendants? I know I come from a no-tipping culture (pay everyone a living wage!), so that sounds crazy to me (but boy, does it explain the attitudes of some of the flight attendants I’ve had on US airlines). There were a few others surprises, but I’ll let you discover those for yourself.
I loved the story itself.
What I didn’t like were some of the parts that were based on fact, on the author’s own experiences. I work in human resources, and there were so many places—sooo many—where I just couldn’t believe the way the airline was treating their employees.
I loved watching Claire discover herself and regain her confidence. I loved watching her make new friends. I loved watching her reconsider her relationship with Wyatt. Most of all, I loved the way she and Nathan drew closer, yet Nathan honored and respected her relationship with Wyatt even though it was obvious he wanted more.
I don’t usually read the blurbs at the beginning of a book because I want to form my own opinion. But this time, one caught my eye: Sarah Monzon says “Fans of Melissa Ferguson and Courtney Walsh will want to ad this one to their TBR list.” Having recently read rom-coms from Sarah Monzon, Melissa Ferguson and Courtney Walsh, I have to agree.
Claire Holloway is Winging It is a fun rom-com that ticks all my boxes.
It’s got a heroine who’s doing the best she can in the face of a major life change, a loveable hero, and new friends who support her as she finds her way. Most of all, it’s genuinely funny and has a solid Christian subtext.
Thanks to Kregel Publications and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
About Angela Ruth Strong
Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009 then quit writing romance when her husband left her. Ten years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there’s nothing else she’d rather write about. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been optioned for film, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best-sellers.
She also writes non-fiction for SpiritLed Woman. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she teaches as an expert online at WRITE THAT BOOK.
You can find Angela Ruth Strong online at
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About Claire Holloway is Winging It
After Claire Holloway’s dream of becoming a ballerina plummets, she’s left with her boyfriend as her only support. . . until she decides to become a flight attendant for the free travel. Based out of state, she moves into a crash pad with a gaggle of other flight attendants, and her fear of losing Wyatt seems to become a reality.
First Officer Nathan Stuart — a bit cynical since he and his fiance broke up — meets a somewhat frazzled Claire on her very first day in the Seattle airport. When they end up on the same crew, he takes her under his wing, and they quickly bond.
When Claire’s once-supportive boyfriend’s attitude sours into resentment, she’s left wondering whether her newfound joy is the right way to go. Pulled between two men and her new career, Claire must learn to listen for God’s direction the same way her flight crew follows air traffic control.
In this hilarious rom-com, readers will lift off into the turbulent skies of romantic adventures as Claire navigates God’s plan for her life.
