Tailspin by Sandra Brown

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

✅Would recommend- if this fits your preferences, go for it!

Published by Grand Central Publishing on February 5th, 2019

Crime Thriller

Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers

🌶️3/5- open door but danced around- described but with euphemisms

📖 432 pages

🎧 12 hours, 53 minutes

⚠️ Trigger warnings: cancer, violence, blood, cursing, sexual content

🤓 SUMMARY 🤓 

Rye Mallett sticks to the skies to avoid other people on purpose, until he’s grounded by a crash and gets wrapped up in the intrigue that is Dr. Brynn O’Neal and her mystery miracle drug, and the rich senator who wants it for himself. 

👀 REVIEW 👀 

This book was pretty formulaic, but it was still exciting and enjoyable. There were surprises at every turn (nothing groundbreaking) and while the pace was only medium, it kept me coming back for more. I’m a big stickler for a plot that keeps me thinking about it- if I’m bored, I’m not reading it. But I also don’t do well when the book is so suspenseful and full of twists and questions that I get stressed out. This would be a great book (any of Sandra Brown’s would be great) for anyone who struggles to find the balance between a cozy romance and gory crime thrillers. It is not, however, a ROMANCE. There are a few good scenes, but I would say it was about 10% spice, 15% looks and thoughts and banter, and 75% thriller plot.

The cast of characters was moderately diverse but could have been better, for sure. There were characters you loved, and characters you loved to hate. I appreciated the character development, especially in Rye. A stereotypical aloof macho man who don’t need nobody and nothing but his plane (or motorcycle, or bottle of whiskey, or whatever the trope happens to be), Rye is eventually shown to be much more sensitive and complex (ya know, like a human being). His insecurities are uncovered and he confides in Brynn eventually. Slight trope pet peeve- does nobody in literature go to therapy? So many books would never be written if people just addressed their baggage and learned to handle it in effective ways- but noooo, we have to be mysterious and need the arms of a good woman to woo us away from our vices…

Brynn also develops from someone very reserved and afraid to show others her true motivations into someone a little more open and assertive, but she has virtuous intentions, even if illegal. The rest of the characters are about half and half good guys and bad guys- Dash, Jake, Rawlins, and Wilson are all doing their best to stick to the rules and do what’s best; Dr. Lambert, Goliad, Richard, and Delores are only interested in their own self-interests; smack in the middle is Brynn’s father, Wes O’Neal, a seasoned thief turned shoplifting security for Walmart, and adds a little comedic relief. 

At the very extreme ends of the spectrum are Violet and Timmy- Violet is totally pure and innocent, has her own wants and needs at the front of her mind because she’s a sick kid, but doesn’t wish harm or even discomfort for anyone else. And Timmy is… Timmy. He’s a loose cannon and a total psycho, and that’s all I’ll say about him. 

This was the first physical book I read from start to finish since probably high school, and I really wanted to be a person who reads a paperback in bed before sleep every night. Unfortunately, as a mom, the second I’m horizontal, I’m sleepy, so it took me probably a year and half to finish this one. This is not a comment on the contents- if you read physical books regularly, or if I had listened to it, I’m sure I would have gotten through it much more quickly. Overall, I would recommend it if it fits your interests, but I don’t expect it to be the next big thing on BookTok.