Review: Fly In Fly Out by Georgina Penney

Title: Fly In Fly Out

Published: Michael Joseph: Penguin Au Jan 2015

Status: Read from January 06 to 08, 2015 — I own a copy

My Thoughts:

Fly In Fly Out by Georgina Penney was first published by Penguin’s digital romance imprint, Destiny, as Unforgettable You, as a prequel to Irrepressible You.

Fly In Fly Out features thirty something year old Jo Blaine, an engineer who lives in Perth, Western Australia but works on an oil rig off the coast of North Africa. Her brutal schedule requires she spends a month off shore living on the rig, longing for the few weeks R&R she can enjoy in her Fremantle apartment with her cat before having to return for her next shift. Finally home after a particularly grueling shift, Jo is stunned to find a pair of size 14 shoes in her hallway and a naked man in her bed. In her absence, Jo’s best friend, Scott, and sister, Amy, have allowed Stephen Hardy, a man she hasn’t seen in fifteen years and who is a reminder of her terrible past, to move in. Though their initial reunion is tense, Jo agrees to let Stephen, whom she once had a crush on, to stay and it’s not long before the pair realise their mutual attraction. Yet Jo is wary, terrified Stephen will discover the dark secret she has kept hidden for years.

There is an unexpected dark side to this engaging romance within the secret Jo desperately wants to keep from Stephen. The situation drives the majority of the conflict in the novel, adding a strong element of suspense and tension to the story.

The characters are well drawn, Jo is a bit of a tomboy but not unfeminine, strong minded, but achingly vulnerable when it comes to her family. Stephen is a sweetie, perhaps prone to being a pushover, but only because his heart is in the right place and he steps up beautifully when required. I love them together and the more intimate scenes between them were pretty hot. The supporting characters, including Jo’s sister, Amy, best friend, Scott, and Stephen’s brother, Mike, are also likeable, as is Boomba the cat.

Penney’s writing style is warm, I enjoyed her sense of humour and felt she handled the darker elements of the story well. The setting is an easy winner for me – I miss my hometown of Perth and so I enjoyed being able to visit Fremantle, Kings Park and the south west winery region. I also liked learning a little about life on an oil rig for someone like Jo – it’s obviously a challenging job.

Fly In Fly Out is a great read, with a sweet and passionate romance and an engaging storyline, I’ve added Irrepressible You (which features Amy) to my wishlist.

Click here to learn more about Georgina Penny from the guest post “A Rig Girl’s Night Out” she shared earlier today.

Fly In Fly Out is available to purchase from

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