HIMPower Magazine September 2016 | Page 12

Book Review One Flight Up Book Review by Kevin Morgan W hen it comes to trying to decide what to do when true love is missing from your life, what is the right thing to do? The novel, One Flight Up by Susan Fales-Hill presents some pretty intriguing answers to that question. Fales-Hill has written an interesting book that introduces us to four well-bred women who each have their challenges when it comes to finding or keeping true love. India is a top-notch divorce lawyer who made a vow to never let her heart drag her into the world of unreliable men and broken dreams. Abby is an unabashed art gallery owner who is married, but she suspects her husband is cheating on her. Esme is a seductive and undeniably gorgeous woman who is bored with her life as a wife and mother. She constantly uses casual sexual hookups to break the numbing monotony of her life. Monique is an up and coming Buppie gynecologist who is intrigued by the romantic attention of a co-worker. She is slowly being convinced that this co-worker may be able to fill the void left by her inattentive husband. Each woman has exceeded even their lofty hopes and plans for their lives as it related to their careers and lifestyles. For anyone observing from the outside this multicultural collection of women, they were living the dream. They sported the finest fashion 12  HimPower September 2016 designer clothes and frequented the classiest of restaurants. But, as is the case for most people, success in finances did not automatically mean success in romance. One Flight Up does not pretend to have the right answers to the question of what to do when true love evades you. As you follow the thoughts, actions and reactions of these four women in this novel, you may find fault with some of the choices they made. Especially in light of the fact that except for their love lives, they have everything else together. Yet, I find the author’s portrayals of India and her friends refreshing and even brash at times. These women face their respective challenges with some defiance tinged with unspoken self-doubts. They make mistakes and they deal with the consequences of those choices. Don’t let the stylish clothes and expensive handbags fool you. The struggle of these women in this novel to find their way to true love is a battle they have in common with other less financially secure women. To mask their pain, they may nimble on chocolate from Tuescher and Godiva, while their poorer sisters may salve their broken hearts with chocolates named Hershey. So, what should one do when they find themselves lacking in true love? One Flight Up gives the reader some interesting options to consider.