Racing the Dream: Fly Low…Fly Fast…and Turn Left… (White Hawk Aviation Adventure Series Book 3) by M.T. Bass | Book Review ~ Gift Card Available ~ Excerpt | #Fiction #Adventure @GoddessFish @Owlworks
A book blog tour from Goddess Fish Promotions.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Marianne & Judy at Goddess Fish for providing me with the information for this tour.
Book Details
Racing the Dream: Fly Low…Fly Fast…and Turn Left… by M.T. Bass Series: White Hawk Aviation Adventure Series Book 3
on August 28, 2023
Genres: Action & Adventure
Format: eBook, Hardcover, Paperback
Pages: 332
Source: Goddess Fish Promotions, Kindle Unlimited“If everything seems under control, you’re not going fast enough.” ~Mario Andretti
Strap down the 5-point harness in the cockpit of a Formula 1 air racing plane and join Hawk as he chases victory! First on their amateur make-shift course over Antelope Acres, then on the re-emerging pylon racing circuit in the early 1960s. And finally, as Hawk battles 7 other top-level pilots at the very first National Air Racing Championship event in Reno!
Abandoning the cloth and his African mission, Father Bob resurrects his engineering slide rule to design Hawk’s racer. With Sparks, his loyal yet surly mechanic, building it and wrenching both on the engine—as well as on Hawk—he keeps them at the front of the pack. Home again in Los Angeles from behind the stick of a T-6 Texan as a mercenary in the Congo civil war, air racing is a new aviation adventure for Hawk. Ride along as he tangles with fellow pilots in “uncooperative formation flying” at two-hundred miles per hour, just fifty feet off the ground!
And then one day, cruising home to Van Nuys airport Hawk spies Allison, a beach-blonde surfer girl, insanely wing walking on a Stearman PT-17 bi-plane. He quickly sets his sights on her.
Fly low…Fly fast…and Turn Left…
Cover art courtesy of the National Championship Air Races from their inaugural 1964 Reno Air Race poster.
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Excerpt from Racing the Dream
Chapter 8 — The Albatross Hotel
Allison kicked off her shoes and dropped them in the car. I stripped off my jacket and left it, then we wound our way around the Albatross to the waterfront where she skipped ahead and waded into the surf.
Staring out to sea, she took a deep breath. “You’ve got to love it. It’s the law.”
“Well, I’m kind of a desperado.”
Allison spun around to kick water at me, then started walking north.
I followed along just outside the retreating waves.
“Sure, sure—a desperado. Well, don’t make me walk out here all by myself.”
“But—”
“But nothing.”
So I slipped off my shoes and socks, then rolled up my pants legs. She didn’t stop. “Hey, wait for me.”
Allison ran ahead, stopped, then turned to face me.
“I’m beginning to think that you’re the one who’s an outlaw,” I said walking up to her. “A real Black Rebel.”
“Maybe…”
“So, what are you rebelling against?” I asked.
“Whadda ya got?”
I looked her in the eyes and smiled.
“Well, then, don’t wait too long.”
I leaned in and we kissed, softly. Then more passionately as I took her in my arms.
“Mmmm…” she moaned sweetly, then put her head against my chest. “Come on.”
She took my hand and we walked north through the moonlit surf.
I watched her looking out to sea. “What are you doing?”
“Oh, nothing,” she sighed. “Just counting waves.”
“Why?”
“Force of habit. It’s what you do in the lineup.”
“The lineup?” I asked.
“Uh-huh. When you’re surfing.”
“Oh, no. Don’t tell me you’re a surfer girl.”
Allison began to sing The Beach Boys song: “Do you love me, do you, surfer girl? Surfer girl surfer girl.”
“Seriously?”
I stopped walking, but she pulled me along. “Everything’s a song.”
“Aye-Yi-Yi,” I moaned.
“And, you know, it does make sense—considering my job and all.”
I thought about it a bit. “Yeah…I suppose. A surfboard is kind of like a wing. And how long have you been doing that?”
“Before I started flying. I learned in Hawaii when Dad was based at Hickam. I think I might have been twelve. And, of course, there are great waves up north when I went to Stanford. It gets in your blood. You’re not fighting gravity, you know? You are riding a wall of green that some storm has thrown at you from way out at sea. And some of them get pretty big and mean and, man, you are racing for your life with the wind blasting in your face as the wave crests over your head. You’re scared, but your juices are flowing like crazy, too.”
“Sounds wild.”
“Yeah. Yeah, it is. Some say it’s better than sex.”
“You?”
She smiled at me. “Haven’t decided, yet.”
“Right…and you surf here?”
“Up north past the Malibu pier, at Surf Rider Beach. And Zuma Beach and County Line.”
“Well, what do you know: flying, philosophy, and surfing.”
“I do lead a full life.”
I looked out at the waves, then back at her. “So you do.”
We walked another half-mile north, then turned back south towards the Albatross, got in the car, and drove back to Hollywood.
When I walked her to her apartment door, we kissed again.
“Don’t wait so long to call, again,” Allison said as she slipped inside. Before she closed the door, she looked back at me. “Who knows, one of these days you just might get lucky.”
Excerpt provided by the author/publisher for use in this post.
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Purchase Links for Racing the Dream
Amazon – OneLink for every country
Racing the Dream: Fly Low...Shop on Amazon
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My thoughts on Racing the Dream
“Racing the Dream” by M.T. Bass is a gripping and exhilarating adventure that takes readers on a thrilling ride through the world of air racing in the early 1960s. Combining the adrenaline of high-speed competition with elements of romance, this book offers a well-rounded and captivating story for readers of all kinds.
The novel opens with the quote, “If everything seems under control, you’re not going fast enough,” by racing legend Mario Andretti, setting the tone for the breakneck speed and excitement that follows. The story follows the journey of Hawk, an ex-mercenary pilot, as he transitions from flying in the Congo civil war to competing in air races. The transition is made possible through the expertise of Father Bob, who designs Hawk’s racing plane, and Sparks, the loyal and gruff mechanic responsible for building and maintaining it.
One of the most notable aspects of “Racing the Dream” is the meticulous attention to detail concerning planes and the world of air racing. The author’s knowledge and research shine through, giving readers a deeper understanding of the daring pilots who risked their lives for speed and victory. The descriptions of the races themselves are vivid and pulse-pounding, making it easy for readers to visualize the thrill and danger of racing at two hundred miles per hour just fifty feet off the ground.
Aside from the action and adventure, the novel incorporates a romantic subplot involving Hawk and Allison, a beach-blonde surfer girl with a penchant for wing-walking. This adds a layer of depth to the story and keeps the plot moving steadily, offering readers moments of respite amidst the high-speed action.
The characters in “Racing the Dream” are well-drawn and come to life on the page. Hawk, Father Bob, and Sparks are compelling individuals with distinct personalities and backgrounds, making investing in their journey and rooting for their success easy. Their interactions and dynamics add an extra layer of authenticity to the story.
Summary
“Racing the Dream” is a page-turner that offers a captivating glimpse into the world of air racing in the 1960s. It’s a tale of passion, speed, and dreams as big as the sky. Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast or simply looking for an action-packed adventure with well-drawn characters, this book offers something. M.T. Bass has delivered a winning combination of adrenaline and heart in this compelling narrative, and it’s a story that will leave readers yearning for more.
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
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I love my Amazon Kindle Unlimited Subscription. So many books, so little time!
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About M.T. Bass
M.T. Bass is a scribbler of fiction who holds fast to the notion that while victors may get to write history, novelists get to write/right reality. He lives, writes, flies, and makes music in Mudcat Falls, USA.
Born in Athens, Ohio, M.T. Bass grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University, majoring in English and Philosophy, then worked in the private sector (where they expect “results”), mainly in the Aerospace and defense manufacturing market.
He is the author of twelve novels, two novellas, and a book of verse. His writing spans various genres, including Mystery, Adventure, Romance, Black Comedy, and TechnoThrillers.
A Commercial Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor, airplanes and pilots are featured in many of his stories. Bass currently lives on the shores of Lake Erie near Lorain, Ohio.
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Purchase Racing the Dream online from a local bookstore.
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Easy Amazon Info Link
Amazon – OneLink for every country
If the above link does not take you to your country, here are a few more:
Please send me a note if your country isn’t listed and you would like to purchase using my links. Using my link does not change the price you pay. Amazon pays me a minimal amount out of their share.
Racing the Dream: Fly Low...Shop on Amazon
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Giveaway!
During the tour, M.T. Bass will award a randomly drawn winner a $25 Amazon or B/N GC via rafflecopter.
Visit more stops on this Goddess Fish tour for extra chances to win!
Official Tour Page for Racing the Dream
Full Tour Schedule:
October 23: Gina Rae Mitchell – review
October 23: Country Mamas With Kids
October 23: The Book Connection – first chapter review
October 30: The Faerie Review
October 30: Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
November 6: Guatemala Paula Loves to Read
November 13: travel the ages
November 13: Beyond Romance
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Goddess Fish Virtual Book Tour Host
What is the highest altitude you have flown at?
Do you have a favorite model of airplane?
What is the longest distance you have ever flown solo?
How old were you when you first solo piloted a plane?
For the author: How old were you the first time you went up in a plane?
I wonder how you practice wing walking on a Stearman PT-17 bi-plane?
Pretty scary thought to me!
Hi Gina —
Yeah, it’s kind of like people jumping out of perfectly good airplanes.
~Mudcat
Hi Nancy —
Personally, I had no clue, so I did some research and learned a lot about it.
Check out this website: https://masonwingwalking.com/
Thanks.
~Mudcat
The National Championship Air Races sounds like an exciting sport!
Yikes! Wing walking sounds very dangerous to me!
Me too!
Who are you most like in your family?
Hi Tracie —
Honestly, I am a lot like my dad—except I was not afraid to fly like he was.
I finally got him up in a plane with me on his eightieth birthday.
Thanks.
~Mudcat
This sounds like an exciting book that will be hard to put down!
I have a lot to learn about air racing in the 1960’s. This book would be informative.
Racing the Dream sounds like. very interesting book.
This sounds like a fascinating read.
I love the artwork on the cover!
Hi Denise —
I was lucky to get the Reno Air Racing Association to let me use a poster from the 1964 inaugural race.
~Mudcat
I liked the excerpt.
When you were a chid, what book genres did you enjoy reading?
Hi Nancy —
When I was a kid, I read mostly biographies–and mostly of football and baseball heroes.
Later, I “graduated” into fiction,
Thanks.
~Mudcat
Do you have any writing buddies?
Hi Tracie —
I don’t really have anyone that I buddy up with to write. But I do belong to a couple of writers groups that help out with critiques on my work.
Thanks.
~Mudcat
[…] https://ginaraemitchell.com/ […]
Hi Gina –
I’m happy you enjoyed “Racing the Dream.”
I wonder which villains are the favorites of your readers.
Thanks for the review.
~Mudcat
Thank you for reviewing today.
[…] 23: Gina Rae MitchellOctober 23: Country Mamas With KidsOctober 23: The Book Connection – first chapter […]