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What Happens in the Air
To get over their first love…
They had to come home!
After Luke Thornburg shattered her heart, Shelby Bien fled town to become a jet-setting photographer. She's shocked to find that single dad Luke’s back in Beaumont—and that the demise of their love wasn’t what it seemed . When they join forces to fly their families’ hot-air balloon, it’s Shelby’s chance at a cover story. And, just maybe, a second chance for the former sweethearts' own story…
From Harlequin Special Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.
Love in the Valley
Book 1: What Happens in the Air
Book 2: All's Fair in Love and Wine
Book 3: Love's Secret Ingredient
They had to come home!
After Luke Thornburg shattered her heart, Shelby Bien fled town to become a jet-setting photographer. She's shocked to find that single dad Luke’s back in Beaumont—and that the demise of their love wasn’t what it seemed . When they join forces to fly their families’ hot-air balloon, it’s Shelby’s chance at a cover story. And, just maybe, a second chance for the former sweethearts' own story…
From Harlequin Special Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.
Love in the Valley
Book 1: What Happens in the Air
Book 2: All's Fair in Love and Wine
Book 3: Love's Secret Ingredient
- GenresRomance
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published January 24, 2023
4 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Michele Dunaway
104 books54 followersEver since she was in first grade, Michele Dunaway wanted to be a writer. Even later in life, she found herself writing, and served on Kirkwood High School's newspaper staff, her college paper, and a local music newspaper (which led to Michele's five-second appearance on MTV's "The Week in Rock").
"I've always wanted to write fiction and I published my first stories using my sister's manual typewriter," she said. "I wrote love stories, and married myself and my sister to the cutest boys in the neighborhood. My sister wrote westerns and killed everyone. We had a great time and I guess you can say that those first stories hooked me into wanting to write more."
Michele concentrated on her writing, even while getting her teaching degree.
"While I earned my undergraduate degree in education, my master's degree is in media communication. In my spare time, apart from studying and teaching, my hobby has always been writing. I still have romance novels in the basement from when I was in high school and college. They're scrawled out in my handwriting, and written long before I knew anything about weaving plot, setting, and character. A teaching colleague Ed Washington read a Highlander fan fiction novel I wrote and told me I should try to seriously get published. So instead of it just being a dream, I set about trying to make it reality," she said.
In 1988, Michele set a goal at her five-year high school reunion to be published by the year 2000. While she authored three professional journal articles, and compiled the Journalism Education Association Middle/Junior High Curriculum Guide, it wasn't until August of 1999 that Michele learned she had sold her first novel to Harlequin American Romance.
"I'm thrilled that I accomplished this. Writing for Harlequin has always been a dream of mine, and words can't express the elation I felt when I heard they were buying my novel. I found out in the school office and the school nurse came running out because I was screaming with joy after I put down the phone," she said.
Since then Michele has sold over 15 novels to Harlequin and her works have been translated into French, Italian, German, Portuguese, and Japanese among others. Describing herself as a woman who does too much but doesn't know how to stop, Michele also teaches high school English, advises the school yearbook, and raises two daughters and five spoiled housecats.
"I've always wanted to write fiction and I published my first stories using my sister's manual typewriter," she said. "I wrote love stories, and married myself and my sister to the cutest boys in the neighborhood. My sister wrote westerns and killed everyone. We had a great time and I guess you can say that those first stories hooked me into wanting to write more."
Michele concentrated on her writing, even while getting her teaching degree.
"While I earned my undergraduate degree in education, my master's degree is in media communication. In my spare time, apart from studying and teaching, my hobby has always been writing. I still have romance novels in the basement from when I was in high school and college. They're scrawled out in my handwriting, and written long before I knew anything about weaving plot, setting, and character. A teaching colleague Ed Washington read a Highlander fan fiction novel I wrote and told me I should try to seriously get published. So instead of it just being a dream, I set about trying to make it reality," she said.
In 1988, Michele set a goal at her five-year high school reunion to be published by the year 2000. While she authored three professional journal articles, and compiled the Journalism Education Association Middle/Junior High Curriculum Guide, it wasn't until August of 1999 that Michele learned she had sold her first novel to Harlequin American Romance.
"I'm thrilled that I accomplished this. Writing for Harlequin has always been a dream of mine, and words can't express the elation I felt when I heard they were buying my novel. I found out in the school office and the school nurse came running out because I was screaming with joy after I put down the phone," she said.
Since then Michele has sold over 15 novels to Harlequin and her works have been translated into French, Italian, German, Portuguese, and Japanese among others. Describing herself as a woman who does too much but doesn't know how to stop, Michele also teaches high school English, advises the school yearbook, and raises two daughters and five spoiled housecats.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 13, 2023
Michele Dunaway is a writer who knows the job and this is my first read by her! I can tell this is a writer who has written category romance for a while and enjoys showing up for the assignment. What Happens in the Air is a coming home story, it’s a second chance at love story between two high school sweethearts. The reason these two didn’t just end up together was believable and made for a juicy conflict that kept me turning pages. It’s small town romance at its best. It has a family feud, undeniable chemistry, found family and is a really exploration of what is home, where is home? Setting down roots. Not needing or wanting to be on the go so much anymore (all centered around the conflict)
It’s a great read.
It’s a great read.
November 13, 2022
What Happens in the Air is a joyous romp through hot air balloons, small town and the rekindling of a romance after years of misunderstandings. When Shelby comes home she doesn’t expect to run into Luke, her high school love and former best friend. Luke is back in town after the death of his wife and his young daughter takes an immediate liking to Shelby. In between realizing their break-up wasn’t what either of them realized and the spark between them is far from gone, they both nurture their careers and take up their father’s hot air balloon to end a feud between their families. Shelby and Luke’s romance is sweet and their growth as a couples is so fun to be a part of. I loved this story and highly recommend it to romance lovers!
*I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book
*I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book
June 9, 2023
Sweet second chance love story. Luke and Shelby grew up next door to each other and were lifelong friends. When they were teenagers, their friendship grew into more, and they had grand plans for their future together. But misunderstandings and outside interference tore them apart, believing the other had betrayed their love.
Shelby left her hometown behind and ultimately became a globe-trotting photographer. As the book opens twelve years later, she is between assignments and plans to spend a few days with her parents in Beaumont, Missouri. She's shocked when she runs into single dad Luke, who has moved back to Beaumont after his wife's death.
Luke has never forgotten his first love and recently learned about the interference that drove them apart. Though he doesn't expect to rekindle their romance, he wants to clear the air and reinstate their friendship. He gets his chance when their fathers' feud jeopardizes the families' traditional participation in the town balloon festival.
Shelby only expects to be home for a few days before returning to Seattle, but when she sends some of her hometown pictures to her boss, she's offered the chance to do a full spread about the festival. This is a significant career advancement, so she jumps at it. Because of their fathers' feud, this will be the first time their balloon hasn't flown in the festival. Luke suggests to Shelby that they fly the balloon, hoping the time together will allow them to reconnect. Shelby is wary at first, but once she hears the truth behind their separation, she's willing to try.
Neither Luke nor Shelby expects anything more than friendship from their time together. Luke and his daughter are putting down roots in Beaumont, staying close to family. Luke has also started a new business that he is excited about. At the same time, Shelby's life is one of constant travel as she chases her next adventure. But the more time they spend together, the more old feelings return. There are some sweet scenes of the two together, from prepping the balloon and taking test flights to spending time with Luke's daughter, Anna.
Luke realizes the depth of his feelings first but is sensitive to Shelby's dedication to her career. I loved that he refused to ask her to give it up for him. His support of her dreams is terrific, even though letting her go again will break his heart. Shelby realizes the depth of her feelings, which are at war with her desired career path. I ached for both as they parted again. I loved the ending, as Shelby finally realized where her heart belonged. Luke doesn't make it easy for her because he's afraid to get his hopes up, but in the end, Shelby finds a way to have the best of both worlds. The epilogue was terrific.
My favorite secondary character was Anna. She's a sweet little kindergartner who takes to Shelby right away. Anna is fascinated by Shelby's work as a photographer and is over the moon when Shelby offers to teach her. There are great scenes of the two together, and I loved Anna's excitement over the whole process. Like Shelby, Anna has a good eye, and I loved the bit in the epilogue about her progress.
The feud between the two fathers mainly was two stubborn fools letting their pride get the better of them. I loved seeing Shelby and Luke work around them to get the balloon going and that their mothers were willing accomplices. I also loved the bit at the end where Luke brought them together and told them they were being idiots and set a lousy example for Anna. He didn't pull any punches, and I was happy that the older men finally got it.
I loved the Missouri setting, especially the sightseeing bits in St. Louis. I've been to those places myself, which added a little extra kick to the story.
Shelby left her hometown behind and ultimately became a globe-trotting photographer. As the book opens twelve years later, she is between assignments and plans to spend a few days with her parents in Beaumont, Missouri. She's shocked when she runs into single dad Luke, who has moved back to Beaumont after his wife's death.
Luke has never forgotten his first love and recently learned about the interference that drove them apart. Though he doesn't expect to rekindle their romance, he wants to clear the air and reinstate their friendship. He gets his chance when their fathers' feud jeopardizes the families' traditional participation in the town balloon festival.
Shelby only expects to be home for a few days before returning to Seattle, but when she sends some of her hometown pictures to her boss, she's offered the chance to do a full spread about the festival. This is a significant career advancement, so she jumps at it. Because of their fathers' feud, this will be the first time their balloon hasn't flown in the festival. Luke suggests to Shelby that they fly the balloon, hoping the time together will allow them to reconnect. Shelby is wary at first, but once she hears the truth behind their separation, she's willing to try.
Neither Luke nor Shelby expects anything more than friendship from their time together. Luke and his daughter are putting down roots in Beaumont, staying close to family. Luke has also started a new business that he is excited about. At the same time, Shelby's life is one of constant travel as she chases her next adventure. But the more time they spend together, the more old feelings return. There are some sweet scenes of the two together, from prepping the balloon and taking test flights to spending time with Luke's daughter, Anna.
Luke realizes the depth of his feelings first but is sensitive to Shelby's dedication to her career. I loved that he refused to ask her to give it up for him. His support of her dreams is terrific, even though letting her go again will break his heart. Shelby realizes the depth of her feelings, which are at war with her desired career path. I ached for both as they parted again. I loved the ending, as Shelby finally realized where her heart belonged. Luke doesn't make it easy for her because he's afraid to get his hopes up, but in the end, Shelby finds a way to have the best of both worlds. The epilogue was terrific.
My favorite secondary character was Anna. She's a sweet little kindergartner who takes to Shelby right away. Anna is fascinated by Shelby's work as a photographer and is over the moon when Shelby offers to teach her. There are great scenes of the two together, and I loved Anna's excitement over the whole process. Like Shelby, Anna has a good eye, and I loved the bit in the epilogue about her progress.
The feud between the two fathers mainly was two stubborn fools letting their pride get the better of them. I loved seeing Shelby and Luke work around them to get the balloon going and that their mothers were willing accomplices. I also loved the bit at the end where Luke brought them together and told them they were being idiots and set a lousy example for Anna. He didn't pull any punches, and I was happy that the older men finally got it.
I loved the Missouri setting, especially the sightseeing bits in St. Louis. I've been to those places myself, which added a little extra kick to the story.
May 11, 2023
What Happens in the Air by Michele Dunaway is a sweet, second chance romance. Childhood sweethearts Luke and Shelby let a misunderstanding tear them apart and both were too stubborn to seek out the other to repair the damage. Twelve years pass before they are reunited in their hometown where a disagreement between their father has the town in a tizzy. This is a story about friendship, young love and forgiveness. Both Shelby and Luke had blame in how their earlier relationship ended. I liked seeing them re-establish their friendship and the inclusion of Luke's young daughter Anna. She was an old soul who made the story more believeable. I loved the description of the town and felt like I could visit with ease.
March 12, 2023
Their parents being friends and living next door to each other, Shelby and Luke grew up together. Their friendship blossomed into romance but misunderstanding and people shenanigans separated them at the beginning of adulthood. Luke stayed in Beaumont, got married and started a family. Shelby travelled the world to take prize-worthy photograph. Hot-air balloon was once a big part of their lives and it's about to reunite them again.
I enjoyed the novelty of the hot-air balloon story and details but the MC's chemistry felt more like friendship than romance to me.
I enjoyed the novelty of the hot-air balloon story and details but the MC's chemistry felt more like friendship than romance to me.
February 8, 2023
I really enjoyed this second chance romance. I bought this at a local store and I voluntarily chose to review it. I've given it a 4.5* rating. Not sure it's for under 18 readers. It's near the border line with the sexual content. These two characters grew up together in a small town but they seem to want different things in life but do they? Mix in hot air balloons and lots of other things, and see how it goes.
September 17, 2023
A sweet romance centered around the people in a little town in Missouri. The flow of the story will keep you hooked plus the likable and relatable characters. I actually learned a little bit about hot air balloons.
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January 1, 2023Small Town & Rural Fiction, Family Life Fiction, Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Love in the Valley (Book #1)
Miniseries
Love in the Valley (Book #1)
November 11, 2024
If you like a predictable romance this is for you. 2.75 stars.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews