M. T. Bass

Action and adventure and a whole lot of charm.

Racing the Dream is the third book in the series White Hawk Aviation Stories by author M.T. Bass, and it may be the surprise find of the year for me. It is chockful of interesting and natural characters, great dialogue and fun one-liners, exciting air racing action, wing walking, and surfing, and written by an author who's a wonderful storyteller; I didn't want to put this book down.

The main character is Pilot A. Gavin Byrd, or Hawk, as he is known to all. He's led an adventurous life: war hero, Alaskan bush pilot, and flyer in the Congolese Air Force, where he saved the life of "Father" Bob, a former priest and genius aeronautical engineer. Hawk and his team are at the forefront of the resurgence of air races in the early 1960s, flying a plane of Father Bob's design and maintained by mechanic Sparks. His flying buddy, Scotty, is the final member of their foursome of good friends. The camaraderie among these men was fun and a joy to read. Hawk's love interest, Allison, is a fearless pilot and wing walker, an adrenaline junkie who also surfs with the big boys. The relationships, storyline, and action worked exceedingly well together, and I was immediately reminded of the flying and air race films from a much earlier era (1930s) starring such film legends as Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, Alice Fay, and Spencer Tracy.

The author's writing style was so comfortable I was absorbed into the story right away, and time absolutely "flew" by. While the book is the third in the series, it still stands well on its own. However, the bits and pieces of backstory from the previous novels are downright tantalizing, and I'm looking forward to reading those now as well.

Ironically, the plot involves the inaugural Reno air race in 1964, while this year marks the final time the event will be held in that location. Tragically, this final competition ended with an accident claiming the lives of two veteran pilots.

I recommend RACING THE DREAM to readers of action and adventure stories or historical fiction, especially those interested in flying and aviation history.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.… (more)

I did not know I could get so invested in a story about racing planes. I was intrigued by the blurb, but the story itself blew me away. Bass managed to get my heart racing, and I felt like I was flying right along with Hawk. I don't know how he does it, but Bass somehow manages to make the adrenaline and excitement ooze off the page. The characters are unforgettable, and I loved getting lost in the pages as they pursue their dreams. I will admit, before reading this, I didn't know competitive air racing was a thing - but this did inspire me to dive into a rabbit hole of research, and I have to say Bass did an excellent job of capturing it all. A brilliant, heart racing adventure that moves along smoothly and quickly from cover to cover, you don't want to miss this book!… (more)