Bestselling romance novelist Barnett (Wicked) has seen her books translated into 14 languages, and she finally makes her hardcover debut with this title-says-it-all saga about five individuals caught up in the hyperbolic WWII era, when men were fearlessly daring flyboys and women had to be both smart cookies and virgins at the same time. Despite good intentions and considerable research, however, the result is as ungainly as Bay and Bruckheimer's Pearl Harbor. Rugged, handsome J.R. Cassidy is sent to North Africa to save beautiful damsel in distress Kitty Kincaid (who is not only plucky but blind) from the Nazis. Red Walker, longing to depart his small Texas town, begins flying after he takes a shine to Charlotte "Charley" Morrison, a flygirl who in turn finds herself falling for RAF ace George "Skip" Inskip. Skip is mourning the death of his wife and child during the bombing of London by flying his missions like a man possessed. More like a costume party with a '40s theme or a heroic cartoon, the novel overflows with clichés, although Barnett does a creditable job of maintaining a consistent tone throughout, especially when it comes to the macho vernacular of the military types. Of the principals, the pairing of J.R. and Kitty has the most appeal, but it takes nearly the whole book before the stories of all five main characters finally intersect. As the story jets around from North Africa to America to Europe, diehard Barnett fans will follow with pleasure; others would do well to seek out their nostalgic fulfillment elsewhere. Author tour. (July 10)
