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Blue Skies Kindle Edition

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 245 ratings

Commander Berkley Levine is content with her life as a Top Gun instructor in Fallon, Nevada, flying F-18s for the Navy. A change of government and a new equality initiative places Captain Aidan Sullivan at the helm of the Navy’s newest carrier, the USS Jefferson. Her first mission could lead to serious international consequences if she fails. Aidan’s orders are to destroy two sites housing the nuclear program of an unfriendly nation, and she can think of only one person she trusts enough to get the job done: her old lover Berkley.

Blue Skies will take you from Fallon, Nevada, to the Sea of Japan and beyond, as Berkley leads an elite group of pilots over enemy territory. As they embark on this adventure, Berkley and Aidan try to rediscover what they gave up for family, duty, and country.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ali Vali is the author of the long-running Cain Casey "Devil" series and the Genesis Clan "Forces" series, as well as numerous standalone romances including two Lambda Literary Award finalists, Calling the Dead and Love Match, and her 2017 release, Beauty and the Boss. Ali also has a novella in the collection Girls with Guns.

Originally from Cuba, Ali has retained much of her family's traditions and language and uses them frequently in her stories. Having her father read her stories and poetry before bed every night as a child infused her with a love of reading, which she carries till today. Ali currently lives outside New Orleans, Louisiana, and she has discovered that living in Louisiana provides plenty of material to draw from in creating her novels and short stories.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0046RENU6
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bold Strokes Books (May 1, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 1, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 553 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 238 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 245 ratings

About the author

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Ali Vali
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Originally from Cuba, Ali Vali has retained much of her family’s traditions and language and uses them frequently in her stories. Having her father read her stories and poetry before bed every night as a child infused her with a love of reading, which carries till today. She has discovered that living in Louisiana provides plenty of material to draw from in creating her novels and short stories. Ali currently lives outside New Orleans, Louisiana.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
245 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the storyline engaging and fast-paced. They appreciate the well-developed characters and their strong, likable qualities. The book is described as compelling from start to finish, with an exciting adventure that keeps readers hooked. Readers mention the events are current and worrisome. Overall, they praise the author's writing style as crisp and clear.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

25 customers mention "Storyline"18 positive7 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline. They find the characters interesting and the plot lines compelling. The story flows smoothly with plenty of action and adventure. Readers appreciate the well-written drama and suspense. Overall, they describe the book as an exciting love story with a good mystery that keeps them hooked until the end.

"...action-packed, entertaining story with interesting characters & riveting plot lines— although less than 2 decades ago would've been seen as absurd &..." Read more

"I really enjoyed this book, it was full of action and always kept you wondering how they were gonna get out of the mess...." Read more

"This book is so current it is almost frightening. Intense in action, I found it to be quite feasible that this scenario could easily happen in..." Read more

"...The action and the drama is well written, I do hope there will be a sequel to find out what happens next. So please write a sequel." Read more

12 customers mention "Character development"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters well-developed and likable. They appreciate the sub-characters and their humanity. The two main characters, Aiden and Berkley, are described as strong, intelligent women with passion.

"An action-packed, entertaining story with interesting characters & riveting plot lines— although less than 2 decades ago would've been seen as..." Read more

"...Blue Skies is an exciting book with good characters and an interesting story line...." Read more

"...The characters were interesting and believable. Their humanity showed through in spite of almost super-human accomplishments in the line of..." Read more

"...Both women are such strong characters, from start to finish I was glued to the story...." Read more

12 customers mention "Readability"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging from the beginning with a fast-paced action story that holds their attention. They describe it as a fun, enjoyable read with interesting and well-developed characters.

"...It's a fast paced action story that will hold the reader's attention with a high level of tension, especially once the mission begins...." Read more

"...The characters were interesting and believable...." Read more

"My third reading and it is still as intriguing as the first time I read it. Wanted to gear up for the sequel I've been waiting years for...." Read more

"...If you are looking for a great summer page-turner and are willing to overlook the hyperbole of the plot/bad guys, it is a fun read...." Read more

4 customers mention "Writing style"3 positive1 negative

Customers appreciate the author's writing style. They find it clear and wonderful.

"...I love her work. Her writing is crisp, clear, simply wonderful and she has no problem keeping the reader interested...." Read more

"Great author, but this book just didn't sit so well as the others she's written...." Read more

"I own all of Ms. Vali's books and have loved her style of writing from the depth of characters to her description of surroundings, especially when..." Read more

"...Now to why 3 and not 4 stars, the text mistakes with typos were just not like Ms. Vali's other books (those seem to have more careful proofreading?)..." Read more

3 customers mention "Adventure content"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the adventure content of the book. They mention action, attacks, and airplanes make it a great adventure. Readers recommend the book to adventure lovers and people who believe in second chances. It takes them overseas on the adventure, with strong characters and good detail to sub-characters.

"...taking us overseas on the adventure, strong characters, good detail to sub-characters..." Read more

"Action, attacks & airplanes make a great adventure..." Read more

"...I recommend this book to adventure lovers and people who believe in second chances. It get..." Read more

3 customers mention "Anxiety level"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's events and content current and frightening.

"Books that are based on current events are terrific and worrisome...." Read more

"This book is so current it is almost frightening...." Read more

"4 stars because it’s the whole package. Angst, romance intrigue and passion. I can’t wait till the second book comes out May 1st" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2023
    An action-packed, entertaining story with interesting characters & riveting plot lines— although less than 2 decades ago would've been seen as absurd & impossible, but now is pretty much accurate & imminent reality.
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2013
    I really enjoyed this book, it was full of action and always kept you wondering how they were gonna get out of the mess. The book was more drama then romance, would have liked to see more of that but honestly there was so much going on there wasn't time for it. There were a few things unbelievable about it for example, how fast the jets got off the flight deck. I used to launch jets off aircraft carriers when I was in the Navy and we never would have gotten them off as fast as the book did. But that's why it's fiction, you can write about anything you want. Another great read by Vali, if you like her other books you will enjoy this one also.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2012
    Books that are based on current events are terrific and worrisome. The terrific part is that they seem extremely believable and may teach people about situations they've ignored in the evening news. The worrisome aspect is that, because the story is so realistic, everything in the book takes on a feeling of being factual when in fact it isn't.

    The reader will need to completely disregard the improbability of the relationship between Berkley and Aidan. The military has strict protocols against affairs between people of different ranks, not to mention that, when this book was originally written, Don't Ask, Don't Tell was still very much in effect. Once the reader gets past that barrier, however, she can enjoy an extremely well-crafted story.

    Blue Skies could come off of the front of today's newspapers with the concern over North Korea's nuclear program and the instability that country threatens to inject into world affairs. Knowledge of that situation enhances the power of what Vali writes about. It's a fast paced action story that will hold the reader's attention with a high level of tension, especially once the mission begins. It's populated by interesting and well-rounded characters. Berkley has the swagger of a military pilot and could easily be seen taking over Tom Cruise's role in "Top Gun" or posing as one of the original astronauts. She has that laid back, never get ruffled attitude down pat. Aidan is a classic example of the Naval Academy graduate who is determined to make a name for herself in what has been a man's world. She's as tough and professional as any of them. It's almost playing against type for them to be attracted to each other, but in this case it works. Vali manages to take a North Korean pilot and make her an appealing and commanding character in the story, not an easy task.

    Blue Skies is an exciting book with good characters and an interesting story line. The fact that it may not be totally based on reality doesn't detract from enjoying it at all. This is one that it's easy to recommend to people.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2009
    This book is so current it is almost frightening. Intense in action, I found it to be quite feasible that this scenario could easily happen in current American culture/counter culture.

    The characters were interesting and believable. Their humanity showed through in spite of almost super-human accomplishments in the line of duty.

    This book shows that sometimes it is hard to know who the good guys are from the bad, and that love truly can win a war. I found the ending to be a bit abrupt...more of a beginning than an ending. Room for a sequel, perhaps?
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2017
    I started this book last night and couldn't stop reading it. Both women are such strong characters, from start to finish I was glued to the story. The action and the drama is well written, I do hope there will be a sequel to find out what happens next. So please write a sequel.
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2019
    My third reading and it is still as intriguing as the first time I read it. Wanted to gear up for the sequel I've been waiting years for. Way to go Ali!!
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2009
    The plot is a little too much 'ripped from the headlines' of the current political climate; where a militaristic/sexist prior administration's hanger-ons are determined to sabotage the new administration's efforts to open up the military. Even the two protagonists, both career Navy, are a little too risky with their relationship onboard a carrier.

    What Ali Vali does do well is bringing out the feelings of her characters in a realistic manner, both in dialogue and their actions. Both of the women are independent, dedicated and honorable. This creates a conflict with their feelings for each other that in the past led to a bad choice. The plot circumstances bring them together and they are given one last chance to decide what course is important to them and how much duty will drive their decision.

    If you are looking for a great summer page-turner and are willing to overlook the hyperbole of the plot/bad guys, it is a fun read. Vali does keep the plot moving and does great a great action/adventure that hums alongside the rekindling of the protagonists' romance.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2019
    I love to read anything with a military theme with strong characters and edge of your seat plot, that keeps you guessing and trying to figure out who I is in control.

Top reviews from other countries

  • miss elaine m worby
    5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 17, 2023
    This book is fast paced, full of action, intrigue and drama, with romance interwoven into the intricate plot. The characters are fascinating and the interaction between them all, moves the plot along with lighting speed. I could not put this book down and I'm looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
  • blue106
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 27, 2018
    I really enjoyed this book, a love story set amongst the enjoyment of a Naval thriller.
    I was so pleased that by the time I had discovered this book that the sequel wasn't to far off..
    Both books are really well written, romance, action and political intrigue, Brilliant.. Thank you so much to Ali Vali..
  • Miss S
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five plus in stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 11, 2019
    What a fantastic story. All the elements of a mystery, drama, suspense thriller and romance combined. I was hooked into the story from page one to the end. Can't wait to read the next one

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