Book Review: In Flight by R.K. Lilley (Up in the Air Series #1)

One Line Recap:  A combination of Fifty Shades of Grey and Bared to You, set in the sky.

In Flight by R.K. Lilley is the first book in the Up In the Air series.  Published in 2012, it was one of the first books that I read following my introduction to Billionaire Romance with E.L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey series.  I discovered it on a Billionaire Romance list in Goodreads, and it continues to be on the first page of the Goodreads Billionaire Romance shelf.  I remember loving it in my first reading.  The heroine, Bianca, has a backbone.  At least, more of a backbone than Fifty Shades of Grey’s Anna.  This time though, nearly a decade later, and having read my fair share of billionaire romance books over the years, I don’t quite love it as much.  The cliches of the genre are more obvious to me and boy this book has them all.  But more on that below.  

Up in the Air follows Bianca, a statuesque, but bosomful swedish blonde (I picture a tall Ellen Nordegren), and her relationship with Billionaire James Cavendish.  Bianca aka Bee aka Buttercup, is a first class flight attendant who works alongside her best friend Stephan, a similarly striking (aka also tall blonde and handsome) half in the closet flight attendant, who everyone thinks is her boyfriend.  Bianca and Stephan are more like sibling though, having grown up together in a hard knock life on the streets.  James Cavendish, also known as Mr. Beautiful, first spots Bianca while she is working on a private flight for her boss and the attraction between them is instantaneous.  Cavendish pursues her by booking a seat in first class on a number of her flights.  In their first interaction, he aggressively propositions her but she declines.  Stephan, however, meddles and soon enough Bianca is unable to resist him, for some unknown reason.  Cavendish doesn’t “do” relationships though, so Bianca works hard to keep him emotionally at bay.  The main action of the book really only happens at the end, when Bianca’s past catches up with her.

All in all, this is an easy read, and a fun take on the billionare romance drama.  As a book published early in the popularity of the genre, the plot devices are glaringly obvious, but it doesn’t make the read any less entertaining.

Virgin – Check

Unexplained attraction –  Check

Demanding billionaire –  Check 

Male best friend –  Check   

Dirty Sex –  Check check check.  

Romance Read Rating: Because it lacks that feel of originality ( I mean really, it truly is a combination of 50 shades and Bared to You), but is still a fun quick read, I give the overall book a 4 star rating.  

Steam Rating:  Too hot too handle.  There is a alot of dirty sex in this book.  So I give it a 5 fire alarm.