I saw this novel a couple times at my local bookstore and wasn't sure about it. It's military fiction, which I'm often drawn to, but it also sounded kind of romancy. I worried it would be too far on the romance side for my tastes. Plus, the officer's hair on the cover is unsat. :)

At the mention of Navy SEALs on the back cover blurb, red flags starting unfurling in the back of my mind. I'm not blind, I've seen the covers in the romance section where SEALs seem to be code for Steamy Erotic Amazing Licentious Sex, which is great, but not what I'm currently into reading. On the other hand, I reasoned with myself, standing there in front of the new book table at my local bookstore, Wilson is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and she did serve in the Navy as a helicopter pilot for nine years, so maybe there will be some good action of the military variety. I took a chance and bought it.

So glad I did!

The military action seems realistic without being overly or insecurely technical in detail and the military woman's perspective & experience is highly accurate, from dealing with self-doubts, to the misogynistic culture, to the BS from individual men, to the strong bonds sometimes formed with other women.

In one scene an arrogant male pilot with the call sign Bull (as in bullshit, but also perhaps a nod to Pat Conroy's thinly fictionalized father, Bull Meechum in The Great Santini hits on Sara in a social setting when she's out of uniform. Bull talks nonstop about himself and asks her zero questions, probably assuming he's wowing her. She obviously knows he's full of shit and distractedly listens as he piles lie atop lie. When her friend arrives and the truth comes out, that Sara is an Academy grad, "Bull's drunken smile turns to a scowl, "Bitch," he says, before marching away." That scene nicely encapsulates what military experience can be like for women.

On her website Wilson has a "Pictorial Glossary" of the helicopters and ships featured in Hover, which is pretty cool. I served as landlubber in the Marine Corps in the 1980s and can't imagine the pressures Wilson experienced as a Naval pilot in the 1990s. I've often wished I'd joined the Navy for a chance to serve aboard ship. (Sssh! Don't tell anyone I said that, it's sacrilegious.)

The romance doesn't steal the show nor is it completely unrealistic (no silly scenes where they're off having a hot quickie in the back of a helicopter), but is actually integral to the main character's growth.

In addition to showing the missions Sara flies, her professional challenges, emotional struggles, and budding romance, Wilson also depicts the less glamorous side of military life such as shore patrol duty, obligatory social events, and negotiating the wardroom. Although there is camaraderie, there's also politics and jerky or even dangerous coworkers, as in many work situations.

There's an underlying vibe that I appreciated about this novel: there is no over-the-top glorification of war or service here. For the most part, it's humble people doing their duty, proud of the important work they do. Except for the bad guy, of course, ain't nothing humble about him. Also touching is that Sara is not the only character trying to heal from a past trauma.

Overall, Hover is the best fictional depiction of a women in the military that I've read to date. I'm looking forward to Wilson's second book, Clear to Lift, even if it looks like it will feature a new cast of characters. That's right, after all my trepidation about the romantic elements of this novel, I want to know how things end up for Sara and Eric! ( )

Adventure, suspense, romance, and I learned something new. This fast paced book read like a movie and was impossible to put down. Loved it! ( )

An interesting look at what it is like to be a Navy helicopter pilot. ( )

If you want to know what it's like to be a woman in a male-dominated world like the U.S. Navy, read Anne Wilson's Hover. If you want to know about the technology and training that goes into being a Navy helicopter pilot, read Anne Wilson's Hover. If you want to feel as though you're participating in secret Navy SEAL missions, read Anne Wilson's Hover. And if that's not enough for you, throw in a toe-curling romance.

As I've already stated, Sara Denning is a mass of contradictions. The words she uses to describe the sea can make a person's skin crawl-- and I love the ocean. It definitely made me wonder why on earth she would deliberately choose to join the Navy. Readers aren't left to wonder for long: Sara is carrying a boatload of guilt over her brother's death. She's thrown up so many defensive walls to help her cope-- and even excel-- at something she's petrified of that it's a wonder she's still sane. Hover is a character study of Sara Denning, and it's a fascinating one even though it has more romance in it than I would prefer. I do have to say that yes, I did find the romance annoying from time to time, but it is essential to the growth of Sara's character, so I just sat back and dealt with it.

Dealing with it wasn't all that difficult because there were so many other facets of the book that I enjoyed-- what some readers might call the Tom Clancy elements of military technology and training, those training missions, being part of a carrier strike force, and Sara's being groomed for a top secret mission. These elements shouldn't be too over-the-top for most female readers because of the focus on-- yes-- that romance, and on Sara's relationships with her best friend, her fellow pilots, and her superior officers. Throw in some shore leave in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, and Hover is a book that kept my attention from first page to last. If this is a first novel (and it is), I'm really looking forward to Anne Wilson's next book! ( )

This book proved to be a fast paced story, it was just what I needed this week to escape my "real" life. There was a good balance between adventure and romance. I enjoyed the feeling of being right in the action with the characters. I did find the story and characters believable. There were some true emotions explored in this book. In the future I will try to seek out this author again. ( )