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Melynda Taylor
Melynda Taylor loves writing, travel, visiting new places, interior design, dinners with good friends, cooking for friends and family, re-doing old houses, long walks, and reading anything well-written. She lives in the south of France.
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Book
Late Flight to Lisbon
In December 1998, a snowbound delay at JFK changes two women’s lives forever.
Louella, an American entrepreneur escaping the emotional wreckage of a narcissistic marriage, and Alexa, a Portuguese painter trapped in a glittering aristocratic cage, begin talking over a shared love of books, art, and the freedom they crave. That chance meeting becomes a transatlantic bond that carries them from New York to Lisbon, from Manhattan galleries to Italian palazzos and the wild mountains of Brazil.
As Alexa fights for her artistic voice and Louella dares to love again in a sweeping romance with the enigmatic Lucas, both women uncover buried truths. What they discover will redefine belonging in ways neither could have imagined.
Lyrical, politically astute, and rich with cultural detail, Late Flight to Lisbon is a novel about love, sisterhood, and the courage to claim your own life.
Release date: February 16, 2026
Praise
A vivid and richly told story of the importance of family, true friends, and love.
This evocative story follows the deepening friendship between Louella and Alexa, a woman she meets by chance at JFK while waiting for a flight to Lisbon, and the way their relationship affects them both, allowing them to grow into the people they were meant to be. The author’s deft touch ensures that their connection never drifts into cliché; instead, it is rendered with a realism that is both refreshing and deeply affecting.
Through Alexa, Louella meets Lucas, and this meeting is set to change both their lives. They live far apart, but their relationship deepens quickly, and they make the most of each meeting, relishing their time together while simultaneously counting down the hours they have left.
Louella is encouraged by Lucas to talk about her abusive marriage, and in doing so, she gains a deeper understanding of both her ex-husband and herself. The value of human connection, of having someone truly listen, understand, and support, is underscored in this beautifully told thread that weaves through the book and is a vital part of it.
Late Flight To Lisbon is a story that gently embeds itself into your heart as you absorb the vivid descriptions and wonderfully crafted writing. The revelation, when it comes, is a surprise, yet it also feels inevitable. No life is perfect, and the ending of this story will leave the reader with renewed faith in humanity and the power of love.
The International Review of Books