GRR Reviews Staying Grounded (A Rocky Harbor Novel) by Marianne Rice

Staying Grounded is about violence and ability to control such. My problem with the plot is the "bad guy" got no karma, and the ending was at best, bittersweet.

Graham Riley escaped his hellish family (his father put his mother in a coma, then got Graham arrested when he came to his mother's aid) by becoming a pilot and left his troubles behind. But after punching a drunk passenger in the terminal after the drunk shoved one of his stewardesses to the floor, the airline put him on administrative leave and forced him to get checked by a shrink... So he went home, to Rocky Harbor, Maine, and had a delightful date with a beautiful woman, Maggie. It was to his horror the next day that he found Maggie is Margaret O'Fallon, his company-appointed psychiatrist. Maggie does not want a relationship with a person that leaves because her mother goes into a depression every time her father goes on his photography assignments, often gone for months at a time. But something in Graham made her want to explore that possible connection. Maggie asked Graham to see a different psychiatrist while they explore the chemistry they have together... but then the drunk guy Graham punched (leading to all this) hired a PI and wanted to ruin Graham because his own life is ruined... and now Graham must decide whether he valued his job more... or life with Maggie?

WARNING SPOILER AHEAD

Graham basically resigned his airline job to become a local tour pilot and pilot instructor to stay with Maggie. Where's the karma? Sure it's romantic, and he doesn't want to leave, but hey, how about some karma! Sheesh!

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Pilot who defended his stewardess with a punch fell for the psychiatrist who is key to return him to duty

Tropes: doctor / patient, evil parents, scars,

Overall Rating: 4/5 (rounded up)