Out of the Blue

By: Josh Lanyon

Narrated by: Alexander Masters

Length: 2 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

France, 1916. The Great War. High above the carnage in the trenches, British and German aces joust like knights of old for control of the skies. The strain and tension of living every day on the edge of death leads to dangerous choices and wild risks. When British ace Bat Bryant's past catches up with him, he strikes out in panic and kills the man threatening him with exposure. But there's a witness: the big, handsome American pilot Cowboy Cooper.

Cowboy, it seems, has his own ideas of rough justice.

©2011 JustJoshin Publishing, Inc (P)2014 JustJoshin Publishing, Inc

Haunting and Sublime

Josh does it again with this memorable story narrated perfectly. I was transported back in time from the beginning to the end.

What Happens?

*Spoiler Alert*

You don’t know if they live through the war & live together in America.

That’s my only complaint.

Hot, hot, hot!

Any additional comments?

Warning: Spoilers ahead

I thought this book is hot, that and well, heartbreaking. It's about World War I after all. The story revolved around British flying ace Bat Bryant whose lover Gene perished during one of their missions, and how he accidentally killed their mechanic Sid Orton, who threatened him with exposure.

This book had been sitting in my audible for months as I was too nervous to read this. Because. Murder. No matter how accidental it is still murder. I know, I know, it is fiction. Still, I worried for the main character.

Then of course there was the war. The pilots drop dead faster than the flies and that's saying something. Most often they lasted a day on the job then they'd be replaced by others who get replaced as well later on. Such a vicious cycle but that's war for you.

As the story went deeper I dreaded the coming of a new day, because I knew another pilot will die. And that's how good of a writer Josh is, he brings the readers right into the middle of the action, make them feel dread, make them experience the war, albeit vicariously.

I also loved the characters but I loved Cowboy the most. He's smokin' sexy. I could tell right away he was in love with Bat.

And did I say this book is hot, hot, hot? ^__^

I enjoyed this book.

Any additional comments?

I had bought the ebook of this a while ago, but for some reason just couldn't get into it. Then I saw it on audiobook and thought I would try it. The narrator really brought it to life for me. The story was very well done. I've read a few books that were preachy about how difficult and dangerous it is to be gay, but this story just brought you into the characters and their circumstances and let the reality speak for itself. It was very powerfully and effectively done. The characters are compelling as is the time period.

Lovely, Alexander Master is Always Wonderful

Audio Version - also 4 stars, the narrator was terrific

That was so sweet, and so, so sad. I can't believe the MC is only 23 years old! What a terrible waste war is (I know, but it truly is). To think of those brave young men getting in their planes every day truly understanding that this could be their last flight, I just can't imagine it. These kinds of stories always get to me, but this one was so special because of the ending - it was really lovely.

I couldn't help but think to myself as I listened to this book, "Is there a German Josh Lanyon who writes stories like this from the other perspective? Are we the evil Americans?" The battle scenes are just amazing in this book, really great.

Great WW1 romance novella

Original Audiobook Review September 2019:
I rarely listen to audiobooks that I haven't already read and that's because I listen to them while I'm working on something else or doing chores so no matter how much I love the story I tend to zone out occasionally so having read the story previously then I know I won't be lost by missing minutes here and there. Out of the Blue is a novella that I've read three times previously and love it every time, well Alexander Masters voice kept me enthralled from beginning to end, not once did I "zone out" while listening to Bat and Cowboy's journey. There's just not enough WW1 stories in the M/M genre but I have a feeling if there 10X what there is, Out of the Blue would still be one of my favorites.

2nd Re-Read Review November 2018:
There is something about WW1 stories that always break my heart, even if it is a HEA of HFN, the lives lost alone is enough pain but with an M/M genre story there is an extra level of heartache added just because of the hiding they had to do. So when I find a story like Out of the Blue, even as my heart hurts for the conditions the characters are living in, when I can still smile, laugh, and reach the final page for the third time and know it won't be the last time then I know I have definitely found a keeper.

Re-Read Review 2016:
I have upped my rating to 5 with my re-read. Since reading it the first time 2 years ago, I have come to have a deeper respect for novellas and don't knock off 1/2 a bookmark just for it's shortness. As for the story, it was fantabulous!! I am a huge lover of WW1 stories so that just added to my enjoyment. Even knowing how the story goes, Cowboy's actions and attitude still left me reeling but loved every ounce of him.

Original Review 2014:
This story is several of my favorite genres all rolled into one: historical, male/male relationships, romance, drama, and erotica. With main characters named Bat and Cowboy you expect to be dropped in the middle of a western, which by the way is also a favorite genre of mine, but this time author has brought her way with words to the airfield of World War One. Now, I won't lie, the first time you meet Cowboy you're not real sure if you are suppose to like him or not but we quickly find out that there's more to him than he first lets on. The only reason I gave this a 4-1/2 bookmark instead of 5 is because I would have loved for it to have been longer. Simply put, I was just not ready to let go of this pair when the final page came. Once again, I was not let down by Ms. Lanyon's work.

Audible, please come OUT

What would have made Out of the Blue better?

This is a gay romance novel masquerading as a historical fiction. That's ok, except that I didn't purchase a romance novel, gay or otherwise, and had I known the actual intent of the author I would not have purchased it. Fair warning, in case you're in the mood to listen to a good WWI air war story and instead fly right into this little novella which is much more about cheesy descriptions of hot man-love than dog-fights. No, I didn't finish it, but in the first chapter one stereotypical man loses his secret lover in a dog fight only to end up in the arms of another stereotypical character and that's all I needed to hear.

Any additional comments?

I wish there were more of a reference to the subplot in the description for those of us not interested in a gay romance novel.