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Bride in Flight
Drama and romance in New Zealand. Kirsty was ready for her wedding to Gilbert when the telephone rang - and the caller was the woman to whom Gilbert was already married. Her life shattered, Kirsty ran blindly back to New Zealand, the land of her childhood. Even there her troubles followed her - and led to even more complications!
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1965
39 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Essie Summers
106 books52 followersEssie Summers was a New Zealand author who wrote so vividly of the people and landscape of her native country that she was offered The Order Of the British Empire for her contributions to New Zealand tourism.
Ethel Snelson Summers was born on on July 24, 1912 to a newly-emigrated couple, Ethel Snelson and Edwin Summers, situated in Bordesley Street in Christchurch, Essie was always proud of both her British heritage and her New Zealand citizenship. Both her parents were exceptional storytellers, and this, combined with her early introduction to the Anne of Green Gables stories, engendered in her a life-long fascination with the craft of writing and the colorful legacy of pioneers everywhere.
Leaving school at 14 when her father's butcher shop experienced financial difficulties, she worked for a number of years in draper's shops and later turned her experiences to good use in writing the romantic novels for which she became famous.
She met her husband-to-be William Flett when she was only 13 years old, but it was 13 years before she consented to marry him. A minister's wife and the mother of two, William and Elizabeth, she still found many opportunities to pen short stories, poetry and newspaper columns before embarking on her first novel, which sold to the firm of Mills & Boon in 1956.
Summers died in Taradale, Hawkes Bay on the August 27, 1998.
http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/...
Ethel Snelson Summers was born on on July 24, 1912 to a newly-emigrated couple, Ethel Snelson and Edwin Summers, situated in Bordesley Street in Christchurch, Essie was always proud of both her British heritage and her New Zealand citizenship. Both her parents were exceptional storytellers, and this, combined with her early introduction to the Anne of Green Gables stories, engendered in her a life-long fascination with the craft of writing and the colorful legacy of pioneers everywhere.
Leaving school at 14 when her father's butcher shop experienced financial difficulties, she worked for a number of years in draper's shops and later turned her experiences to good use in writing the romantic novels for which she became famous.
She met her husband-to-be William Flett when she was only 13 years old, but it was 13 years before she consented to marry him. A minister's wife and the mother of two, William and Elizabeth, she still found many opportunities to pen short stories, poetry and newspaper columns before embarking on her first novel, which sold to the firm of Mills & Boon in 1956.
Summers died in Taradale, Hawkes Bay on the August 27, 1998.
http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/...
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 4, 2018
Three and a half stars. Essie Summers goes sweet as pie in this book, and she makes me like it. The h almost makes the mistake of her life by marrying the wrong guy, but she runs for cover. She meets the H, who reluctantly falls in love with her, but gets the wrong idea about what happened. Both h and H are really nice people who deserve to be happy. There are the typical sweet touches associated with Summers.
December 30, 2013
This was a little different to some other books. In Australia, Kirsty is disillusioned on her wedding day when she catches Gilbert with another woman who he had obviously been playing around with but had now rejected. Unsure but reluctant to condemn him she decides to go on with the wedding but a phone call from another woman claiming to be his wife sends her running an hour before the ceremony. The woman tells her to run as a police investigation into bigamy will set the news-hounds on her tail.
She goes to New Zealand where the honeymoon was supposed to be, using her tickets under her name if she had been married. When her seat mate on the flight mistakes her for a married woman, a widow, she allows him to think so. Even better when he needs someone to look after his nephews and nieces in an isolated road camp where he is an engineer. What an excellent place to hide out from the press.
Of course thrown together the two become friendly but her secret is bound to cause trouble and it does. With a bit of drama at the end and a return to Australia we get our happy ending.
She goes to New Zealand where the honeymoon was supposed to be, using her tickets under her name if she had been married. When her seat mate on the flight mistakes her for a married woman, a widow, she allows him to think so. Even better when he needs someone to look after his nephews and nieces in an isolated road camp where he is an engineer. What an excellent place to hide out from the press.
Of course thrown together the two become friendly but her secret is bound to cause trouble and it does. With a bit of drama at the end and a return to Australia we get our happy ending.
August 23, 2019
Essie Summers wrote a whole litany of M&B during the 1960's and 1970's - mostly set in New Zealand - and I was keen to try one of her titles.
The premise of this book, published in 1964, was interesting enough; 'young woman learns on wedding morning her fiancee is a bigamist and flees to another country', however there just weren't enough hooks in the plot-line and I own to skimming the middle chapters. For me, the book wasn't helped either by the fact that its hero and heroine weren't especially engaging characters - they were just a bit too bland and wholesome.
I'm rating this book a 2-star vintage romance read. In short, while there's such a thing as over-construed tension between protagonists (as I'm learning reading Mary Wibberley's Laird of Gaela), there are some M&B titles where authors don't add enough non-extraneous tension and this is the case, I think, with 'Bride in Flight'.
The premise of this book, published in 1964, was interesting enough; 'young woman learns on wedding morning her fiancee is a bigamist and flees to another country', however there just weren't enough hooks in the plot-line and I own to skimming the middle chapters. For me, the book wasn't helped either by the fact that its hero and heroine weren't especially engaging characters - they were just a bit too bland and wholesome.
I'm rating this book a 2-star vintage romance read. In short, while there's such a thing as over-construed tension between protagonists (as I'm learning reading Mary Wibberley's Laird of Gaela), there are some M&B titles where authors don't add enough non-extraneous tension and this is the case, I think, with 'Bride in Flight'.
October 27, 2018
A little different from this author’s usual fare. The same basic values in evidence though.
May 29, 2019
Best one yet. Lots of excitement.
July 26, 2025
I think that this might be my favourite Essie Summers book. I had read it before years ago, but had forgotten how much I liked both the hero and heroine (23). He is kind, does not quote poetry, not narky, in fact he is practically perfect and yet not sanctimonious. The heroine is not middle-aged in temperament, is not nurse-like practical, not perfect and not annoying. Neither is the story full of biblical references, poetry or perfect people interfering. There is a lot of New Zealand scenery dialogue, but it is interesting and put over as they drive through it. Furthermore the characters are ordinary people rather than saint like figures. I was going to give this a 4 star review, but just for that and the really rather fab hero, I am popping it up to 5.
November 6, 2016
Kirsty is all ready for her wedding when a phone call informs her that the groom is already married. So she runs away. Back to New Zealand, which she remembers fondly from childhood. When a kind stranger offers her a job looking after his nephews and niece, she accepts, but finds herself living a lie, that only becomes worse as time goes on.
Very believable characters. Beautifully described scenery that is almost a character in itself. Highly recommended.
Very believable characters. Beautifully described scenery that is almost a character in itself. Highly recommended.
December 23, 2013
WOW! This story was fit with twist and turns that had my head rattling. I think I guess it from the start but having it all confirmed was nice!
April 1, 2023
I am so thrilled that Essie Summers books are on kindle now! And bear in mind that these new kindles are also the original hardcovers that were released when the books were first published - and before Harlequin cut them down to fit their own specs - so if you are an Essie fan well worth the investment even if you already have the paperback or large print copy!
Not a sheep station but Essie manages to get her heroine nicely placed in a pretty remote and challenging place nonetheless! Interesting start to this one where on her wedding day a young bride who is already having second thoughts gets a phone call that sends her running. It's a somewhat typical Essie in that the heroine is deceptive (for good reason of course) but that's going to count against her when the truth finally comes out! Not one of my top Essies but one I enjoyed revisiting very much.
I want to add that the new kindle editions are excellent - if there were any typos I missed them, and that is not something I can say about most of these older books that have been converted to e-books. Also a lot of extras have been included that provide insight into the author and the setting and there are also a lot of photos of the area in which the book is set that are just breathtaking.
Not a sheep station but Essie manages to get her heroine nicely placed in a pretty remote and challenging place nonetheless! Interesting start to this one where on her wedding day a young bride who is already having second thoughts gets a phone call that sends her running. It's a somewhat typical Essie in that the heroine is deceptive (for good reason of course) but that's going to count against her when the truth finally comes out! Not one of my top Essies but one I enjoyed revisiting very much.
I want to add that the new kindle editions are excellent - if there were any typos I missed them, and that is not something I can say about most of these older books that have been converted to e-books. Also a lot of extras have been included that provide insight into the author and the setting and there are also a lot of photos of the area in which the book is set that are just breathtaking.
March 4, 2024
Charming, Heart-Warming
Thank you for publishing these books! Essie Summers must have done for New Zealand what Lucy Maude Montgomery did for Prince Edward Island. Her depictions of its glorious scenery are so poetic and immersive, they truly bring that gorgeous land to life.
What a delight to read a novel featuring inspiring characters with actual morals, self-control, self-discipline and kindness instead of the usual dysfunctional anti-heroes populating today’s fiction.
I learned so much about the gallant New Zealanders who built the first roads on the South Island. Depictions of the Maori are respectful and kind, so unlike the way many White American novelists of the era depicted Black or Native people.
I only wish the cover illustrations of these books were less embarrassingly cheesy and cartoonish!!
Thank you for publishing these books! Essie Summers must have done for New Zealand what Lucy Maude Montgomery did for Prince Edward Island. Her depictions of its glorious scenery are so poetic and immersive, they truly bring that gorgeous land to life.
What a delight to read a novel featuring inspiring characters with actual morals, self-control, self-discipline and kindness instead of the usual dysfunctional anti-heroes populating today’s fiction.
I learned so much about the gallant New Zealanders who built the first roads on the South Island. Depictions of the Maori are respectful and kind, so unlike the way many White American novelists of the era depicted Black or Native people.
I only wish the cover illustrations of these books were less embarrassingly cheesy and cartoonish!!
abrierto-to-read-hr-other
August 6, 2022Kirsty was dressed and ready for her wedding to Gilbert when the phone call arrived that was to shatter her life — the call from the woman to whom Gilbert was already married. Kirsty's immediate instinct was to run blindly away — back to New Zealand, the land of her childhood. But even there her troubles followed her, and led to even more complications.
August 31, 2025
Quite enjoyed this romance of its time.- lots of familiar places mentioned. also lots of sexism, obvious plot lines.
so a 3 star rating for the nostalgia and the laughs, rather than the story or writing
so a 3 star rating for the nostalgia and the laughs, rather than the story or writing
November 10, 2025
Full of learning!
This was one of my favorite Essie Summer’s books! The characters are so sweet and the plot is smooth and enjoyable. This one isn’t quite so full of history for people who would like an Essie Summers that’s less dense.
This was one of my favorite Essie Summer’s books! The characters are so sweet and the plot is smooth and enjoyable. This one isn’t quite so full of history for people who would like an Essie Summers that’s less dense.
May 1, 2023
One of the more annoying plots I've ever come across. Lies and more lies, and incredibly irresponsible delayed conversations.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews