Amber Polo crafts a high flying contemporary romantic suspense novel with Flying Free.  Set in the Arizona desert, Polo’s characters are filled with warmth and heart.

The novel opens with forty year old Amelia (Lia) Bedford in training to get her pilot license.  As a condition of her father’s will, Lia must get a license to receive her inheritance.  Lia comes from a big city in Texas and goes to live in a small airport flying community just outside of Sunrise.  For Lia, change is uncomfortable, no matter how the community members try to make her welcome.  

Lia isn’t the only new person in the airpark.  Seth is a renter, brought in as a consultant for a retreat the Branocks are building.  Seth is unlike any man Lia has met before.  For one, he’s into meditating, eating vegan, and a Buddhist.  Soon, the community takes the renter under their wing.

Complications arise when an unknown company begins buying up property around the airfield and Chance Branock begins filming the residents under the guise of making a movie about the airpark.  Seth thinks Chance might be up to no good, and voices his suspicions to Lia.  Has Lia grown to care for her spunky, good-natured neighbors or will she let Branock get his way? 

Polo’s writing is crisp and engaging.  The pace moves well, slowing down in the right spots.  Polo’s characters are rich and well developed from Lia and Seth to the supporting cast.  Two thumbs up to the supporting cast.  Lia, especially, is full of complexities.  I love the thought given to her name, Amelia, invoking the daredevil aviator, Amelia Earhart.  The novel’s title not only alludes to the flying community of the novel, but it also has a deeper meaning for Lia, as she learns to let her own soul fly free and be true to herself.

The novel is “sweet,” for CRR with several tender kisses.  Flying Free will take the reader for a ride on the wings of love.