Pilot Elmer Darrell will get the jaunt of his life after he agrees to compete against racecar driver Humboldt Bratka in the latest craze, SPEED. As each man seeks to outdistance his past, their passions collide against a roaring background of speakeasies, masked balls, and jazz! Will "Elm" fall for the flapper turned wing-walker, Zella? Will "Bolt" fall for the vamp racecar driver, Veronica? Or will something develop between them that leaves the women behind in a trail of dust? Find out as they fly from New York to Hollywood in a quest for fame, fortune, and romance. KIRKUS REVIEW, our verdict, "GET IT!" TITLE INFORMATION BURNING WITH A BLUE FLAME Sebastian Dureaux-Russell BOOK REVIEW Derring-do and skullduggery abound in Dureaux-Russell's historical novel of the Jazz Age. The year is 1925 and the setting is Daytona Beach. Elmer (Elm) Darrell was an aviator in the Great War—an ace, in fact. Humboldt (Bolt) Bratka, who did not serve, is making a name for himself in auto racing. Raw and taciturn Elm was a farm kid; darkly handsome (Gary Cooper, meet Rudolph Valentino) Bolt comes from faded aristocracy. They meet at an exhibition pitting plane against race car and are immediately, almost electrically, attracted to each another. The narrative then introduces Lady Veronica (Roni) Van De Vord (the aristocratic name says it all). She is also a race car driver, and a model as well—she's a vixen and a spitfire who knows Elm and Bolt probably better than they know themselves. These three and their coterie are creatures of the Roaring '20s, disillusioned and out for a good time. They carouse almost past human endurance, and to top it off, Bolt intends to set a new world speed record on the famous sands of Daytona Beach while Elm aims to set an altitude record. Of course, it's the Prohibition era, so throw in rum-running and the mob. This is Dureaux-Russell's debut novel and readers may hope for sequels (Elm and Bolt and Roni in Hollywood?). The author endeavors to make the story a believable period piece, including details of the planes and cars involved, and of the speakeasy scene, with its passwords, cross-dressing emcees, and gin drinkers gyrating to the Black Bottom. Some anachronistic expressions slip in (does the wisecracking formulation of "And this concerns me, why?" really go back 100 years?), but he makes good use of period songs that reflect the ongoing action. Roni pithily sums up the ethos:"The war is over and it's damn time to have some fun!" It's the philosophy of the moochers who show up at Gatsby's wild parties, hangovers be damned. An impressive evocation of a time and place. Burning with a Blue Flame Sebastian Dureaux-Russell Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Reader Views (01/2024) "Burning with a Blue Flame" by Sebastian Dureaux-Russell is the dynamic debut novel driven by the need for speed, fame, fortune, and love. Elmer Darrell is a pilot who lives for thrills, and he gets them when he competes against Humboldt Bratka, a racecar driver. The latest fad is SPEED, and both men are running from something deeper than boredom. Each has a past he hopes to evade, but fate brings their powerful passions to an intersection in the world of jazz, masked balls, and speakeasies. This environment is ripe for what is about to unfold for these characters. There is also a wing-walker named Zella, and a racy racecar driver named Veronica, who may steal their hearts, or maybe they won't, as it becomes a question of attraction between the two men, "Will they or won't they?". The unexpected result may surprise and please you, so throw off any expectations you may have and settle in for a real character-driven adventure romance. The whirlwind takes them from one location to another. Dureaux-Russell has a gift for writing cleverly and entertainingly, placing you right in the middle of a world that you probably aren't that familiar with, but are so glad you dropped in. The setting, atmosphere, and tone are just perfect for an adventurous tale like this, a time when anything seemed possible and people weren't afraid to take chances. Florida plays a good part in the story as well, as does the brand-new love affair with airplanes and motor racing. Readers will not just appreciate but will enjoy women striking out and demonstrating their blooming independence and competitiveness, like Zella and Veronica. On a personal note, I really like jazz-soft jazz to be exact-so this jazz-infused novel really hits the spot in that regard. If this were a movie, I'd definitely call it a period piece, but with lots of heart and energy. The story is bold and refreshing, the dialogue crackles with life, and the characters are quite memorable. For a historical adventure romance that feels as contemporary and fresh as today's trending topics, "Burning with a Blue Flame" by Sebastian Dureaux-Russell is a must-read. Welcome! My name is Sebastian Dureaux-Russell. I am the author of the novel, "Burning with a Blue Flame." I first beca