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Wings
From a house on the edge of her family's dusty farmland airstrip near Chicago, the child Cassie O'Malley would sneak into the night to look at the planes sitting shimmering in the moonlight. Her World War I veteran father, Pat, wanted his son to be a pilot, not his reckless, red-haired daughter. But it was Cassie who had the gift. Ever since she could remember, Cassie felt the pull of getting in a cockpit and taking to the skies. Observing all the while was her father's junior partner, Nick "Stick" Galvin, a fellow war ace and airborne daredevil. Nick would become her confidant and best friend, willing to break all the rules to teach her to fly, knowing that the greatest gift he could give her was the freedom of flying.When California entrepreneur Desmon Williams sees Cassie in a local airshow, he invites her to California where she breaks new ground as a test pilot. Soon Cassie's record-breaking flights make her a media darling. Drawn by Desmond's plans for her to break Amelia Earhardt's records, but determined to avoid her mistakes, Cassie trains for the remarkable journey around the world. From public appearances to press conferences, easily used by both her husband and the press, Cassie realizes that there is more to life than making headlines. Risking her life, pushing herself to her limits, she decides to chart her own course and pursue her own destiny, whatever it costs her.Wings is set in a time of constant change, when the world was on the brink of war and the skies were filled with adventurers, a time when courage and daring forever changed modern-day aviation.From the Hardcover edition.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
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About the author
Danielle Steel
911 books16.7k followersDanielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world's bestselling authors, with almost a billion copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include All That Glitters, Royal, Daddy's Girls, The Wedding Dress, The Numbers Game, Moral Compass, Spy, and other highly acclaimed novels. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina's life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; Expect a Miracle, a book of her favorite quotations for inspiration and comfort; Pure Joy, about the dogs she and her family have loved; and the children's books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
November 15, 2015
This story amazed me. It is very simple to read, to understand and yet, it has that something. Something that pulled me to think harder about aviation, women in aviation and progress of a young life.
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Spoiler alert:
I must admire the determination and persistence I saw in this book. There is this young woman following her dreams in spite of everybody, even her family. That shows her strength and courage. She knows what she wants and also knows that she won't get in on a silver platter. She gives up everything for airplanes, tries to explain herself even when she should get support and respect.
Her life isn't easy but she makes it look like she can concur everything. And she can!
They had her life already planned for her. She refused that, became one of the best female pilots, got married and later divorced that awful man, all by herself alone, she suffered a loss of her best friend, and eventually got together with the love of her life.
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The fact that this is a book about aviation, which I'm really close to, I got to understand some things I never thought I would. Being a pilot is a calling, a way of life, not a job.
.
Thank you Danielle Steel for this amazing and inspiring book! Danielle Steel
.
Spoiler alert:
I must admire the determination and persistence I saw in this book. There is this young woman following her dreams in spite of everybody, even her family. That shows her strength and courage. She knows what she wants and also knows that she won't get in on a silver platter. She gives up everything for airplanes, tries to explain herself even when she should get support and respect.
Her life isn't easy but she makes it look like she can concur everything. And she can!
They had her life already planned for her. She refused that, became one of the best female pilots, got married and later divorced that awful man, all by herself alone, she suffered a loss of her best friend, and eventually got together with the love of her life.
.
The fact that this is a book about aviation, which I'm really close to, I got to understand some things I never thought I would. Being a pilot is a calling, a way of life, not a job.
.
Thank you Danielle Steel for this amazing and inspiring book! Danielle Steel
January 15, 2012
It was by far one of the best books i have ever read.
December 18, 2018
Cassie O’Malley is the fourth daughter of a WWI pilot who has built a tiny airport on the outskirts of Chicago between the war years. Consequently she grows up surrounded by planes, pilots, and engine grease. More than anything, she wants to fly, but…she happens to be female and everybody knows girls can’t be pilots.
Every December, I try to stretch my normal reading habits and try something different. I confess to having somewhat diminished expectations for this book. It is, after all, a romance, and a Danielle Steel book aimed at the female mass market. How can that sort of thing be for me?
To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised (not the first time this has happened when I read a book such as this). I had never read a Danielle Steel novel before and frankly, I had mostly dismissed them despite the top-10 all-time novelist revenue she has earned. However, I found myself enjoying the book, especially the first half. There is a good story at its heart. I liked the characters and their interactions and I ate up the historical setting regarding the flying industry just prior to WW2. The second half of the book did have its problems though with some uneven pacing, a romance triangle (ugh), too much repetition (yes, I get it, Cassie loves to fly), and a few too many telescoped plot points that tended to remove any unpredictability. I also thought the main characters sometimes acted out-of-character and that jarred the flow of my reading.
Still, the story was endearing, emotional, and in the end mostly satisfying. I do think the author missed an opportunity for some sweet revenge against the primary antagonist, but we don’t always get what we want. So overall, I’m glad I stretched my reading muscles once again. And who knows, perhaps Danielle Steel has another book or two out there…
Every December, I try to stretch my normal reading habits and try something different. I confess to having somewhat diminished expectations for this book. It is, after all, a romance, and a Danielle Steel book aimed at the female mass market. How can that sort of thing be for me?
To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised (not the first time this has happened when I read a book such as this). I had never read a Danielle Steel novel before and frankly, I had mostly dismissed them despite the top-10 all-time novelist revenue she has earned. However, I found myself enjoying the book, especially the first half. There is a good story at its heart. I liked the characters and their interactions and I ate up the historical setting regarding the flying industry just prior to WW2. The second half of the book did have its problems though with some uneven pacing, a romance triangle (ugh), too much repetition (yes, I get it, Cassie loves to fly), and a few too many telescoped plot points that tended to remove any unpredictability. I also thought the main characters sometimes acted out-of-character and that jarred the flow of my reading.
Still, the story was endearing, emotional, and in the end mostly satisfying. I do think the author missed an opportunity for some sweet revenge against the primary antagonist, but we don’t always get what we want. So overall, I’m glad I stretched my reading muscles once again. And who knows, perhaps Danielle Steel has another book or two out there…
June 9, 2019
An amazing read. Simple yet significant.
June 6, 2020
I was stuck between 3 and 4 stars. It's really about a 3.5 for me, but because of the story, not the writing. I've been reading through a stack of hardcover books so I can donate them to the book box. I used to love Danielle Steel, but I started to find the books repetitive and a little monotone, so I didn't read any for years. After reading Silent Honor and enjoying it, I moved on to this one. Part of why really liked it is because I love airplanes and wanted to be a military pilot. I really enjoyed the story for the most part. The main characters were interesting, and I started to feel like I knew them. I really wanted Nick and Cassie to get together before she left home, but it was quickly obvious that wasn't going to happen until the end. It's Danielle Steel, so I knew it wouldn't have a sad ending. Like most of her novels, there was a lot repetition and the writing style is kind of boring, but the overall story itself was exciting. All in all, I really liked the book. There were two things that bothered me though. I was disappointed that Billy died. There already had been enough people killed in the story and there was no reason for him to die; it added nothing to the story. I also was disappointed with the abrupt ending. Like Silent Honor, they finally get to be together and it just stops immediately. If some of the repetition had been removed along the way, a more lengthy ending could have been written to have told a little more of their story. Nick was always worried about having nothing to offer and a big deal was made about Cassie making so much money from her LA and tour adventures, yet there was no story ending about how they used that together to create a happy future for the two of them. The ending was just plain boring.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2014
Blech...the only reason I made it past page 6 was because I was stuck on a plane. The heroine's mother is described by her father as having a perfect body just weeks after having her fourth child. There were several other eyerolling sentences just on that one page that made me almost chunk it in the airport trashcan. The only reason I finished it was because it picked up in the middle of the book about the time my plane landed. The writing fell apart at the end, however, and the reunion of the two main characters was incredibly dull and uninspired.
Basically, this felt like a reimagining of the Amelia Earhart story. The romance was between a young girl and a friend of her Dad's who was basically a member of their family and watched her grow up since she was in diapers. I can get past how much older he is but not the incestuous/pedophiliac overtones.
The plot was uninspired, the writing was bland and ridiculous, and the romance was almost nonexistent or disgusting. I don't recommend this book to anyone.
Basically, this felt like a reimagining of the Amelia Earhart story. The romance was between a young girl and a friend of her Dad's who was basically a member of their family and watched her grow up since she was in diapers. I can get past how much older he is but not the incestuous/pedophiliac overtones.
The plot was uninspired, the writing was bland and ridiculous, and the romance was almost nonexistent or disgusting. I don't recommend this book to anyone.
October 6, 2021
4 stars for this one, so many DS books already read, but it seems I will never be able to catch up to review them all, let alone read!
October 25, 2025
Sometimes I think Danelle Steel can't write a bad book.
January 18, 2019
This was a re-read for me. I read it years ago and pulled it out of my book stash a few weeks ago. Great story. If you like Danielle Steel and havent read it, you should add it to your list.
July 15, 2019
Wow. I love Danielle Steel so much I can't
June 9, 2023
First off…..this book was too long..it could’ve been condensed to maybe 300-350 pages. It dragged a bit but I did enjoy the story and how the author wrote about the young woman’s journey to becoming a pilot. Also, the way the story progressed wasn’t predictable, so it made me curious to see what would happen next. This book would’ve gotten a higher rating if it weren’t for the big age gap relationships and how they were described. The way these relationships were worded was a bit creepy to me. I didn’t like that the main character was described as a little girl next to these older men in their 30’s-40’s. That was my main reason for giving this book a 3 star rating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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July 4, 2022Abandoned. Not a bad story, I just don’t like her writing style.
January 11, 2025
Time taken to read - 2 days
Pages - 480
Publisher - Mass Market Paperback
Source - Gift
Blurb from Goodreads
From a house on the edge of her family's dusty farmland airstrip near Chicago, the child Cassie O'Malley would sneak into the night to look at the planes sitting shimmering in the moonlight. Her World War I veteran father, Pat, wanted his son to be a pilot, not his reckless, red-haired daughter. But it was Cassie who had the gift. Ever since she could remember, Cassie felt the pull of getting in a cockpit and taking to the skies. Observing all the while was her father's junior partner, Nick "Stick" Galvin, a fellow war ace and airborne daredevil. Nick would become her confidant and best friend, willing to break all the rules to teach her to fly, knowing that the greatest gift he could give her was the freedom of flying.
When California entrepreneur Desmon Williams sees Cassie in a local airshow, he invites her to California where she breaks new ground as a test pilot. Soon Cassie's record-breaking flights make her a media darling. Drawn by Desmond's plans for her to break Amelia Earhardt's records, but determined to avoid her mistakes, Cassie trains for the remarkable journey around the world. From public appearances to press conferences, easily used by both her husband and the press, Cassie realizes that there is more to life than making headlines. Risking her life, pushing herself to her limits, she decides to chart her own course and pursue her own destiny, whatever it costs her.
Wings is set in a time of constant change, when the world was on the brink of war and the skies were filled with adventurers, a time when courage and daring forever changed modern-day aviation.
My Review
It has been a while since I read a Danielle Steel but the thing with her is it is like picking up an auld pal, you can just sink into the story/characters and switch off. Set when war is just kicking off we meet wee Cassie. She is a total tom boy and wants nothing more than to fly her dads planes like everyone else. He is an old school type of man and the times where women should be women, marriage, babies and household. Cassie talks her brother into teaching her everything she knows and soon becomes a far better flyer than ever he could be.
The book spans over X period of years, Cassie being a kid, teenager then full grown woman. Reaching achievements that some men could only dream of. As the war comes to Cassie's life and flying take on a whole new level. In between all of that we have relationships, love, loss, family and Cassie's constant strive to be the best she can be whilst always wanting the one thing she cannot have.
The book is set in a time where war is coming then arrives, women are making strides in aviation and Cassie being the main character is trying to fight for her place and win her dads approval. Then we have the barriers between our main characters true love, sorrow, shady characters and some things made me so annoyed and others hit you right in the feels, 4/5.
Pages - 480
Publisher - Mass Market Paperback
Source - Gift
Blurb from Goodreads
From a house on the edge of her family's dusty farmland airstrip near Chicago, the child Cassie O'Malley would sneak into the night to look at the planes sitting shimmering in the moonlight. Her World War I veteran father, Pat, wanted his son to be a pilot, not his reckless, red-haired daughter. But it was Cassie who had the gift. Ever since she could remember, Cassie felt the pull of getting in a cockpit and taking to the skies. Observing all the while was her father's junior partner, Nick "Stick" Galvin, a fellow war ace and airborne daredevil. Nick would become her confidant and best friend, willing to break all the rules to teach her to fly, knowing that the greatest gift he could give her was the freedom of flying.
When California entrepreneur Desmon Williams sees Cassie in a local airshow, he invites her to California where she breaks new ground as a test pilot. Soon Cassie's record-breaking flights make her a media darling. Drawn by Desmond's plans for her to break Amelia Earhardt's records, but determined to avoid her mistakes, Cassie trains for the remarkable journey around the world. From public appearances to press conferences, easily used by both her husband and the press, Cassie realizes that there is more to life than making headlines. Risking her life, pushing herself to her limits, she decides to chart her own course and pursue her own destiny, whatever it costs her.
Wings is set in a time of constant change, when the world was on the brink of war and the skies were filled with adventurers, a time when courage and daring forever changed modern-day aviation.
My Review
It has been a while since I read a Danielle Steel but the thing with her is it is like picking up an auld pal, you can just sink into the story/characters and switch off. Set when war is just kicking off we meet wee Cassie. She is a total tom boy and wants nothing more than to fly her dads planes like everyone else. He is an old school type of man and the times where women should be women, marriage, babies and household. Cassie talks her brother into teaching her everything she knows and soon becomes a far better flyer than ever he could be.
The book spans over X period of years, Cassie being a kid, teenager then full grown woman. Reaching achievements that some men could only dream of. As the war comes to Cassie's life and flying take on a whole new level. In between all of that we have relationships, love, loss, family and Cassie's constant strive to be the best she can be whilst always wanting the one thing she cannot have.
The book is set in a time where war is coming then arrives, women are making strides in aviation and Cassie being the main character is trying to fight for her place and win her dads approval. Then we have the barriers between our main characters true love, sorrow, shady characters and some things made me so annoyed and others hit you right in the feels, 4/5.
November 16, 2017
In summary, Wings is a story of Cassie O'Malley's journey of life where she become a woman pilot and ultimately find true love. After reading nearly 500 pages, there was all to it. The book was so dull with repetitive writing and making it so unnecessarily long. The only reason I read it because I had to do some justice to the money I spent on it; such a waste.
November 25, 2015
I tried to get into it, I really did, but it's just not my thing. It was predictable and repetitive and it was too distracting when it went from one character's views to another too quickly. That made for some creepy moments that I assume weren't intentional.
May 20, 2017
NOT just a love story, the story of living your dreams
December 6, 2025
Pat es un piloto de Estados Unidos que participó en la Primera Guerra Mundial. Él ama la aviación y todo lo que tenga que ver con aviones. Tras la guerra, regresa a su pueblo y crea su propio aeropuerto. Su mayor sueño es tener un hijo varón al que enseñarle su oficio y al que inculcarle el amor por los aviones, pero la vida tenía otros planes para Pat. Tuvo varias hijas y eso lo decepcionó. Finalmente, su quinto hijo nació varón. Para decepción de Pat, su hijo no muestra demasiado interés por los aviones. Es su cuarta hija, Cassie, la que sí estuvo fascinada desde niña por el mundo de la aviación. Lo que pasa es que Pat no puede aceptar que una mujer quiera ni pueda volar.
Cassie es la gran protagonista de esta historia. A ella no le importa que su padre no acepte su pasión por los aviones. Está dispuesta a cumplir su sueño de ser piloto cueste lo que cueste. Literalmente.
Desde muy temprana edad, Cassie demostró que era una aviadora excepcional. Todos en su entorno lo saben, en especial Nick, un amigo de Pat y también piloto, que trabaja con ellos en el aeropuerto.
A escondidas, Nick le enseña a Cassie todos los secretos de la aviación, aunque en realidad es Cassie la que podría enseñarle a él. Con el tiempo, a Cassie le van surgiendo nuevas y grandes oportunidades laborales, pero no todo es tan bonito como parece. Se enfrenta a grandes retos poniendo en peligro su vida y su salud física y mental. Por su camino, se cruza con muchas personas, algunas buenas y otras malas que quieren aprovecharse de ella, y se enfrenta a dilemas profesionales y amorosos. Pese a todo, ella no borra de su mente su gran objetivo. Lo único que de verdad le importa es volar.
Es una historia de una chica con un gran sueño y de todos los contratiempos a los que tiene que enfrentarse para cumplirlo. Me gustaría destacar la evolución de los personajes y la prosa sencilla y bonita de la autora. Es una historia dura a ratos, pero muy entrañable. Me emocionó en más de una ocasión y empaticé mucho con varios personajes. Deja muchos aprendizajes relacionados con el papel de la mujer, la pasión por lo que a uno le gusta, la perseverancia, la valentía, la resiliencia, las consecuencias de nuestros actos, y mucho más.
No obstante, tengo que decir que no estuve de acuerdo con muchas de las decisiones que tomó Cassie ni con todos los asuntos planteados por la autora. Me encantó que fuera una historia que muestra como una mujer en la primera mitad del siglo XX lucha por sus sueños pese a no tener el apoyo de sus personas más importantes. A PARTIR DE AQUÍ HAY SPOILER………….. Sin embargo, no me gustó que los intereses amorosos de Cassie tuvieran 15-18 años más que ella. Durante todo el libro, se describe a Cassie como muy ingenua e incluso algo aniñada. Constantemente se hace alusión a lo guapa y atractiva que es. Personalmente, me resulta muy incómodo imaginarme a una muchacha de 20 años de esas características con un hombre que le saca tantos años. Por otro lado, la decisión de Cassie de casarse con Desmond únicamente porque se sentía en deuda con él, sin estar enamorada y pensando que quizá en el futuro lograra enamorarse de él, no me pareció realista ni acertada. Lo siento, pero a lo largo de nuestra vida hay personas que nos hacen favores, algunos de ellos muy grandes, y que nos ayudan cuando más lo necesitamos, y no conozco a nadie que como agradecimiento decida casarse con esa persona, que es lo que hizo Cassie con Desmond Williams. No me gustó que esto se planteara como si fuera algo normal y corriente. Aunque es cierto que luego Cassie se enfrenta valientemente a las consecuencias. Estos motivos me hicieron dudar entre darle 3 o 4 estrellas. Finalmente me decidí por 4 estrellas ya que es un libro bonito con muchos aprendizajes. La balanza entre todo lo positivo y lo negativo que me transmitió el libro se inclina claramente hacia lo positivo.
Cassie es la gran protagonista de esta historia. A ella no le importa que su padre no acepte su pasión por los aviones. Está dispuesta a cumplir su sueño de ser piloto cueste lo que cueste. Literalmente.
Desde muy temprana edad, Cassie demostró que era una aviadora excepcional. Todos en su entorno lo saben, en especial Nick, un amigo de Pat y también piloto, que trabaja con ellos en el aeropuerto.
A escondidas, Nick le enseña a Cassie todos los secretos de la aviación, aunque en realidad es Cassie la que podría enseñarle a él. Con el tiempo, a Cassie le van surgiendo nuevas y grandes oportunidades laborales, pero no todo es tan bonito como parece. Se enfrenta a grandes retos poniendo en peligro su vida y su salud física y mental. Por su camino, se cruza con muchas personas, algunas buenas y otras malas que quieren aprovecharse de ella, y se enfrenta a dilemas profesionales y amorosos. Pese a todo, ella no borra de su mente su gran objetivo. Lo único que de verdad le importa es volar.
Es una historia de una chica con un gran sueño y de todos los contratiempos a los que tiene que enfrentarse para cumplirlo. Me gustaría destacar la evolución de los personajes y la prosa sencilla y bonita de la autora. Es una historia dura a ratos, pero muy entrañable. Me emocionó en más de una ocasión y empaticé mucho con varios personajes. Deja muchos aprendizajes relacionados con el papel de la mujer, la pasión por lo que a uno le gusta, la perseverancia, la valentía, la resiliencia, las consecuencias de nuestros actos, y mucho más.
No obstante, tengo que decir que no estuve de acuerdo con muchas de las decisiones que tomó Cassie ni con todos los asuntos planteados por la autora. Me encantó que fuera una historia que muestra como una mujer en la primera mitad del siglo XX lucha por sus sueños pese a no tener el apoyo de sus personas más importantes. A PARTIR DE AQUÍ HAY SPOILER………….. Sin embargo, no me gustó que los intereses amorosos de Cassie tuvieran 15-18 años más que ella. Durante todo el libro, se describe a Cassie como muy ingenua e incluso algo aniñada. Constantemente se hace alusión a lo guapa y atractiva que es. Personalmente, me resulta muy incómodo imaginarme a una muchacha de 20 años de esas características con un hombre que le saca tantos años. Por otro lado, la decisión de Cassie de casarse con Desmond únicamente porque se sentía en deuda con él, sin estar enamorada y pensando que quizá en el futuro lograra enamorarse de él, no me pareció realista ni acertada. Lo siento, pero a lo largo de nuestra vida hay personas que nos hacen favores, algunos de ellos muy grandes, y que nos ayudan cuando más lo necesitamos, y no conozco a nadie que como agradecimiento decida casarse con esa persona, que es lo que hizo Cassie con Desmond Williams. No me gustó que esto se planteara como si fuera algo normal y corriente. Aunque es cierto que luego Cassie se enfrenta valientemente a las consecuencias. Estos motivos me hicieron dudar entre darle 3 o 4 estrellas. Finalmente me decidí por 4 estrellas ya que es un libro bonito con muchos aprendizajes. La balanza entre todo lo positivo y lo negativo que me transmitió el libro se inclina claramente hacia lo positivo.
October 9, 2019
I've stated before that I know I'm not in [a Danielle Steel novel]'s target audience, I've maybe read too many submarine/spy/war thrillers and Wilbur Smith epics to enjoy this kind of story; but, for the love of all that is holy, this sucked! What was this book about? I picked it up from my sister's collection imagining a sweeping epic about a young lady's pursuit of the skies, her relentless drive to just become as good/powerful in the cockpit as her heroes, about how her natural ability and the tutelage of one such hero carries her beyond that goal and propels her to become one of the greats, I expected to encounter some incredible machines and some exotic places; but, alas.
As near as I can tell, this is the story of a young girl (she remains a girl for the duration) who lives an incredibly enchanted life where everything she dreams of magically manifests itself through universal alignment or sorcery of some kind. Cassie makes absolutely nothing happen for herself. Everything happens to her. Change my mind. The storm she and her brother get caught in happens when all she wanted was a joyride, Nick happens to decide that he had better teach her, Bobby happens to change his mind about wanting to marry her, Desmond Williams just happens to come find her, and happens to think she may be good enough for a top job at his outfit, Billy happens by, then Nick happens to confess his feelings, Chris' accident happens, a proposal occurs, a marriage happens, a career defining tour is tabled, a bad thing hapens, then another bad thinh happens, then she happens to learn the truth, the tour begins, the tour ends, someone dies, the navy is having an exercise nearby, the Japanese are here! One of her heroines approaches her and happens to give her the opportunity to be reunited with the man she loves. She does nothing for herself!
A favourite blogger of mine uses the metaphor of 'running a race' to describe the pursuit of an objective, the acheivement of a result or the breaking of a barrier; Cassandra was not running a race, she was barely jogging then Danielle Steel happened along to move the finish line right up to her and proclaim her a record breaker. Cassie, unknowingly beautiful and talented Cassie, is vapid, devoid of the fiery Irish redheaded will and passion she is said to have, she has all the personality of a loaf of supermarket bread and all the individual capacity of a bucket without a bottom. The world she inhabits is just as empty.
I think this book would have been better for everyone had it been written by a male author for a majority male audience; the characters would have been fleshier (how can a character of such slime as Desmond Williams be so wasted?), the world would have richer in detail and the machines would have been an actual part of the story not just corollary (Danielle Steel knows nothing about planes, either that or (/and?) she expects the same of her audience). As it is it is just the story of a beautiful girl who has some talent and no personality, her indulgent father who is of such obstinance he folds halfway into the book, the passionate, skilled, capable older man she loves who is so in love with her that he does nothing about it, the dashng billionaire who gives her everything she has ever wanted because...reasons, the equally talented peer who could have been a source of great challenge for our heroine but, you know, sort of wasn't, and their confluence around said girl of no personality. Oh! And there's airplanes. Some of them crash.
As near as I can tell, this is the story of a young girl (she remains a girl for the duration) who lives an incredibly enchanted life where everything she dreams of magically manifests itself through universal alignment or sorcery of some kind. Cassie makes absolutely nothing happen for herself. Everything happens to her. Change my mind. The storm she and her brother get caught in happens when all she wanted was a joyride, Nick happens to decide that he had better teach her, Bobby happens to change his mind about wanting to marry her, Desmond Williams just happens to come find her, and happens to think she may be good enough for a top job at his outfit, Billy happens by, then Nick happens to confess his feelings, Chris' accident happens, a proposal occurs, a marriage happens, a career defining tour is tabled, a bad thing hapens, then another bad thinh happens, then she happens to learn the truth, the tour begins, the tour ends, someone dies, the navy is having an exercise nearby, the Japanese are here! One of her heroines approaches her and happens to give her the opportunity to be reunited with the man she loves. She does nothing for herself!
A favourite blogger of mine uses the metaphor of 'running a race' to describe the pursuit of an objective, the acheivement of a result or the breaking of a barrier; Cassandra was not running a race, she was barely jogging then Danielle Steel happened along to move the finish line right up to her and proclaim her a record breaker. Cassie, unknowingly beautiful and talented Cassie, is vapid, devoid of the fiery Irish redheaded will and passion she is said to have, she has all the personality of a loaf of supermarket bread and all the individual capacity of a bucket without a bottom. The world she inhabits is just as empty.
I think this book would have been better for everyone had it been written by a male author for a majority male audience; the characters would have been fleshier (how can a character of such slime as Desmond Williams be so wasted?), the world would have richer in detail and the machines would have been an actual part of the story not just corollary (Danielle Steel knows nothing about planes, either that or (/and?) she expects the same of her audience). As it is it is just the story of a beautiful girl who has some talent and no personality, her indulgent father who is of such obstinance he folds halfway into the book, the passionate, skilled, capable older man she loves who is so in love with her that he does nothing about it, the dashng billionaire who gives her everything she has ever wanted because...reasons, the equally talented peer who could have been a source of great challenge for our heroine but, you know, sort of wasn't, and their confluence around said girl of no personality. Oh! And there's airplanes. Some of them crash.
June 2, 2021
"Wings" is all about a young woman, Cassie O'Malley, who is a passionate natural flyer. Mr.Pat (her father) oversees her talent, as he wanted his son to be a pilot not his daughter. Nick Galvin (Pat's best friend) observed Cassie's daring attitude and her instinctive flying. Knowing that she wouldn't mind risking her life for the thrill of flying, Nick decided to teach her fly (as he realized that he couldn't let anything happen to his dear reckless daredevil). Cassie O'Malley was soon pushing herself to her limits, breaking records and up for a world tour risking her life.
The touch of historical background of WW, the amiable friendship between Pat & nick, the unspoken understanding between Cassie and his brother, the rare & weird relationship with nick are a good foundation for the story.
Cassie - A woman who doesn't care about her looks, wearing her father's overall with grease all over her, who understand the technical details - of altitude, wind, stability of her plane in her hands just by observation. Very well compensated for the gender inequality expressed with the other character's in Cassie's family. But she could have been a bit more focused, she could have wanted what she achieved instead of just showing like it just came her way. May be the author thought this is more realistic in a family like her's!
Nick Galvin - The admiration he shows towards Cassie for her potential (not just the physical appearance) gains my admiration to this character.
Keeping Cassie unspoiled by the publicity stunts done by Desmond is a plus.
Though the plot is predictable I loved reading it and would suggest to anybody who love happy endings
The touch of historical background of WW, the amiable friendship between Pat & nick, the unspoken understanding between Cassie and his brother, the rare & weird relationship with nick are a good foundation for the story.
Cassie - A woman who doesn't care about her looks, wearing her father's overall with grease all over her, who understand the technical details - of altitude, wind, stability of her plane in her hands just by observation. Very well compensated for the gender inequality expressed with the other character's in Cassie's family. But she could have been a bit more focused, she could have wanted what she achieved instead of just showing like it just came her way. May be the author thought this is more realistic in a family like her's!
Nick Galvin - The admiration he shows towards Cassie for her potential (not just the physical appearance) gains my admiration to this character.
Keeping Cassie unspoiled by the publicity stunts done by Desmond is a plus.
Though the plot is predictable I loved reading it and would suggest to anybody who love happy endings
May 10, 2024
From a house on the edge of her family's dusty farmland airstrip near Chicago, the child Cassie O'Malley would sneak into the night to look at the planes sitting shimmering in the moonlight. Her World War I veteran father, Pat, wanted his son to be a pilot, not his reckless, red-haired daughter. But it was Cassie who had the gift. Ever since she could remember, Cassie felt the pull of getting in a cockpit and taking to the skies. Observing all the while was her father's junior partner, Nick "Stick " Galvin, a fellow war ace and airborne daredevil. Nick would become her confidant and best friend, willing to break all the rules to teach her to fly, knowing that the greatest gift he could give her was the freedom of flying.
When California entrepreneur Desmon Williams sees Cassie in a local airshow, he invites her to California where she breaks new ground as a test pilot. Soon Cassie's record-breaking flights make her a media darling. Drawn by Desmond's plans for her to break Amelia Earhardt's records, but determined to avoid her mistakes, Cassie trains for the remarkable journey around the world. From public appearances to press conferences, easily used by both her husband and the press, Cassie realizes that there is more to life than making headlines. Risking her life, pushing herself to her limits, she decides to chart her own course and pursue her own destiny, whatever it costs her.
When California entrepreneur Desmon Williams sees Cassie in a local airshow, he invites her to California where she breaks new ground as a test pilot. Soon Cassie's record-breaking flights make her a media darling. Drawn by Desmond's plans for her to break Amelia Earhardt's records, but determined to avoid her mistakes, Cassie trains for the remarkable journey around the world. From public appearances to press conferences, easily used by both her husband and the press, Cassie realizes that there is more to life than making headlines. Risking her life, pushing herself to her limits, she decides to chart her own course and pursue her own destiny, whatever it costs her.
January 28, 2022
Es un libro muy bonito, que más allá de hablar de amor nos habla de sueños, de metas.
Sin embargo ha sido un poco contradictorio todo. La descripción de los lugares, los personajes, y en algunas ocasiones de los sucesos, ha sido buena, una descripción bastante detallada, pero, no me he sentido del todo a gusto con el desenvolvimiento de la trama, pienso que Cassie debió haberse impuesto más frente a su padre con respecto a su amor por la aviación, creo que ese tema se resolvió muy por encima, me dio la impresión que después de tanto tiempo de oposición, de la noche a la mañana, ya todo era color de rosa.
Creo que a pesar de ser un libro relativamente largo, muchas veces pecó de ser demasiado rápido con algunas cosas.
Algo que he visto muy común en los libros que me he leído de Danielle Steel, es que, el clímax de la historia se resuelve en el último capítulo y me parece muy poco para dar a concluir todo un libro, pienso que debería ser algo que se resuelva de forma gradual, de por lo menos dos capítulos.
No obstante, la historia es bonita, los personajes yo diría que increíbles, la autora logró transmitirme las características propias de cada uno, y hacerlos protagonistas a todos, de una forma u otra. Hubo ciertas cositas que no me llegaron a gustar del todo, algunos pensamientos que no venían a cuento, pero bueno...en sí, disfruté mucho de la lectura, de haber conocido a sus personajes y de conocer más acerca de la aviación en esos tiempos.
Sin embargo ha sido un poco contradictorio todo. La descripción de los lugares, los personajes, y en algunas ocasiones de los sucesos, ha sido buena, una descripción bastante detallada, pero, no me he sentido del todo a gusto con el desenvolvimiento de la trama, pienso que Cassie debió haberse impuesto más frente a su padre con respecto a su amor por la aviación, creo que ese tema se resolvió muy por encima, me dio la impresión que después de tanto tiempo de oposición, de la noche a la mañana, ya todo era color de rosa.
Creo que a pesar de ser un libro relativamente largo, muchas veces pecó de ser demasiado rápido con algunas cosas.
Algo que he visto muy común en los libros que me he leído de Danielle Steel, es que, el clímax de la historia se resuelve en el último capítulo y me parece muy poco para dar a concluir todo un libro, pienso que debería ser algo que se resuelva de forma gradual, de por lo menos dos capítulos.
No obstante, la historia es bonita, los personajes yo diría que increíbles, la autora logró transmitirme las características propias de cada uno, y hacerlos protagonistas a todos, de una forma u otra. Hubo ciertas cositas que no me llegaron a gustar del todo, algunos pensamientos que no venían a cuento, pero bueno...en sí, disfruté mucho de la lectura, de haber conocido a sus personajes y de conocer más acerca de la aviación en esos tiempos.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2021
5 flying stars!!!!
Let me just start off by saying that this is my first read by this author and it will not be my last. My colleague loaned me this book and told me to have a box of tissues nearby. After reading the blurb, I was sceptical and didn’t think it would be something I would be interested in. I said as much to my colleague, but she insisted I give it a shot. After days of it sitting on my night stand I decided why not? Boy am I glad I did.
This was a great story and a very easy read. I definitely did need those tissues throughout this book and found it unbelievably hard to put it down.
I admired Cassie’s grit. The woman refused to settle for what was expected of her and did what she wanted. I don’t want to giveaway anything and spoil the experience for anyone, but I will say that there are a lot of lessons you will takeaway after you finish reading this book. What a fantastic read.
Let me just start off by saying that this is my first read by this author and it will not be my last. My colleague loaned me this book and told me to have a box of tissues nearby. After reading the blurb, I was sceptical and didn’t think it would be something I would be interested in. I said as much to my colleague, but she insisted I give it a shot. After days of it sitting on my night stand I decided why not? Boy am I glad I did.
This was a great story and a very easy read. I definitely did need those tissues throughout this book and found it unbelievably hard to put it down.
I admired Cassie’s grit. The woman refused to settle for what was expected of her and did what she wanted. I don’t want to giveaway anything and spoil the experience for anyone, but I will say that there are a lot of lessons you will takeaway after you finish reading this book. What a fantastic read.
September 22, 2020
Wings is the story of a young woman who fights all the odds to fulfil her dreams.From her family's dusty farmland airstrip near Chicago, Cassie O'Malley would look at the planes shimmering in the moonlight and feel the pull of taking to the skies. Her First World War veteran father Pat wanted his son to be a pilot, not his reckless red-haired daughter. But her father's partner Nick, fellow air ace and airborne daredevil, was willing to break all the rules and teach her to fly.When Cassie is invited to California to become a test pilot, her record-breaking flights soon make her a media darling. Risking her life, pushing herself to her limits, in a world preparing for the Second World War, she decides to chart her own course and pursue her own destiny, whatever it might cost her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2019
Un romanzo non recentissimo che mi è stato consigliato da un'amica.
Ambientato ai tempi della seconda guerra mondiale è un libro che racconta di profondi e indissolubili legami: la famiglia, l'amicizia, l'amore. Tutto ha inizio con Pat O'Malley, un giovane di belle speranze, grande pilota di aerei, che dopo aver partecipato alla prima guerra mondiale, decide insieme alla moglie, di creare un aereoporto tutto suo. Questo aeroporto è il fulcro di tutta la storia. È lì che Nick e Cassie si conoscono.
Per la recensione completa seguiteci qui:
http://tuttacolpadeilibri.blogspot.co...
Ambientato ai tempi della seconda guerra mondiale è un libro che racconta di profondi e indissolubili legami: la famiglia, l'amicizia, l'amore. Tutto ha inizio con Pat O'Malley, un giovane di belle speranze, grande pilota di aerei, che dopo aver partecipato alla prima guerra mondiale, decide insieme alla moglie, di creare un aereoporto tutto suo. Questo aeroporto è il fulcro di tutta la storia. È lì che Nick e Cassie si conoscono.
Per la recensione completa seguiteci qui:
http://tuttacolpadeilibri.blogspot.co...
January 25, 2021
"... Can't you do anything right, Cass?" He teased and she laughed. There was nothing laughable about it, but if they didn't laugh, they'd cry. Just in few days that they'd both in town, it was obvious to both of them that they were cursed with loving each other forever. Each time they met, or looked into each other's eyes, the power of what they felt for each other brought them closer. There was no escaping it. And Cassie realized now that it wasn't something time would change. She and Nick were part of each other. They always would be. There was no denying it anymore. She had never loved Nick more, and now she had to live with the agony of loving Nick and not wanting to betray Desmond.
March 26, 2025
This is the 34th Danielle Steel book (reading in publication order). Originally published in 1994 it starts off much the same as I have come to expect from her works. Men with lazy old fashioned ideas about women and a strong female character that wants more form life. I was concerned after the first couple chapters that I wasn’t going to enjoy this one but once the time jumps stopped I started enjoy the characters and their development over time.
Taking place mainly in the years before WWII and the first few years of the war including America’s quick entrance into the war there are a lot of historical mentions.
Taking place mainly in the years before WWII and the first few years of the war including America’s quick entrance into the war there are a lot of historical mentions.
March 13, 2023
It was a long book, but good reading. It took place in the late 30s-early 40's. During a time of war and changing views of women & women's rights. But was very hard to read because of how women were expected to marry & have children & do what they were told..I seems so foreign to me in these times. Even though I know women still have a ways to go. But because of these BRAVE, STRONG women that fought the norms of their days, we are where we are today. Thanks to them ALL!
**I was wavering between 3 - 4 stars and I realized I DID enjoy reading it more than I thought.
**I was wavering between 3 - 4 stars and I realized I DID enjoy reading it more than I thought.
September 13, 2024
Co to była za opowieść xD
Główna bohaterka i jej miłość życia przez pół książki nie mogą się zdecydować, fabuła zalatuje groomingiem zamiast romansem , faceci są typowymi facetami i przedstawieni są bardzo stereotypowo.
Nie jestem targetem tej książki, ale uważam, że lepiej by się czytało gdyby książka była tak o 100 stron krótsza, bo myślę, że nawet jeśli ktoś jest fanem głównej pary to będzie bardzo zirytowany ile na ich drodze będzie stało przeszkód.
Ocena:3/5
Główna bohaterka i jej miłość życia przez pół książki nie mogą się zdecydować, fabuła zalatuje groomingiem zamiast romansem , faceci są typowymi facetami i przedstawieni są bardzo stereotypowo.
Nie jestem targetem tej książki, ale uważam, że lepiej by się czytało gdyby książka była tak o 100 stron krótsza, bo myślę, że nawet jeśli ktoś jest fanem głównej pary to będzie bardzo zirytowany ile na ich drodze będzie stało przeszkód.
Ocena:3/5
December 18, 2022
Not a fan at all the characters were so flat it was hard to root for any of them. The age difference between Cassie and Nick really bothered me. I know they tried to explain it away but then they had they line “I’ve loved her since she was three” and it just was a bit too much for me. Similarly, how could Cassie not know Desmond was using her? They’d never been on a date. Never kissed and he proposes?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2023
love this book
This is one of my all time favorite books across all genres. I know a great deal about the history of aviation. I love the characters and their development. The requisite number of characters die, Danielle Steel makes that hard choice every time. The ending isn’t perfect but very satisfactory, much like any ending in life, other than death. I also read it whenever I’m on a plane! The things they do in the book compared to aviation now is really reassuring!
This is one of my all time favorite books across all genres. I know a great deal about the history of aviation. I love the characters and their development. The requisite number of characters die, Danielle Steel makes that hard choice every time. The ending isn’t perfect but very satisfactory, much like any ending in life, other than death. I also read it whenever I’m on a plane! The things they do in the book compared to aviation now is really reassuring!
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