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Soaring Above
For readers who like historical fiction with a bit of a love story. This is a stand-alone book.
1904-Tethered to Earth, Sabina Rys is consumed with longing. Throughout her life, she has looked to the sky, envying the birds their freedom and their opportunity to be soaring above.
Although performing as an aerialist in vaudeville is thrilling, she yearns for something more. Then tragedy strikes, and she is forced into burlesque. Thrown into a world of predators and reprobates, it takes years to escape, but once she breaks free, she can pursue her dream to be an aviator of lighter-than-air machines.
When an ambitious, charismatic man named Julian Bach sees Sabina’s talent, he offers her a job flying Allied agents across enemy lines in WWI. It is perilous and terrifying work, and equally grueling is smothering her growing attraction to him. But Julian is not interested. And does it even matter? She may not live beyond tomorrow anyway.
Join Sabina Rys as she pursues her dreams and Amanda Hughes as she sweeps you up into the gripping tempest of Soaring Above.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 28, 2025
138 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 6, 2025
Read my full review on Rosepoint Publishing.
Sabina comes alive on the page from the first chapter. She’s a bull-headed young woman, knows her talent, and performs it very well as an aerialist until an unfortunate accident ends her days on the trapeze. But only temporarily.
After a few side trips into Vaudeville and burlesque, she is forced to seek new employment by joining the service in WWI France—any chance at getting into the air—and she’s there, using her knowledge of her favorite little flying machine introduced to her from her wing walking days.
Her expertise at mechanics on the planes in WWI France places her in the hazardous position of flying agents in and out of enemy territory. Loved the support characters she is introduced to, as well as the man with whom she can’t deny interest. The characters are well developed as are the scenes within the military.
Sabrina and Julian, who watched her progress from mechanic to expert flyer, suggests a new way to use that flying talent after the end of the war.
The relationship between Sabrina and Julian is a tough one. Both are singularly independent, strong willed and passionate in their idea of duty and it’s that passion that keeps the sparks flying.
Many thanks to the author for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.
Sabina comes alive on the page from the first chapter. She’s a bull-headed young woman, knows her talent, and performs it very well as an aerialist until an unfortunate accident ends her days on the trapeze. But only temporarily.
After a few side trips into Vaudeville and burlesque, she is forced to seek new employment by joining the service in WWI France—any chance at getting into the air—and she’s there, using her knowledge of her favorite little flying machine introduced to her from her wing walking days.
Her expertise at mechanics on the planes in WWI France places her in the hazardous position of flying agents in and out of enemy territory. Loved the support characters she is introduced to, as well as the man with whom she can’t deny interest. The characters are well developed as are the scenes within the military.
Sabrina and Julian, who watched her progress from mechanic to expert flyer, suggests a new way to use that flying talent after the end of the war.
The relationship between Sabrina and Julian is a tough one. Both are singularly independent, strong willed and passionate in their idea of duty and it’s that passion that keeps the sparks flying.
Many thanks to the author for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.
September 14, 2025
Soaring Above covers a multitude of experiences in the life of the main character, Sabina Rys, a Polish immigrant. The story begins with a traveling vaudeville troupe, where her family performs as aerialists. Tragedy reduces them to much seedier surroundings, performing in burlesque shows on the road. Sabina was always interested in flight, from birds to the Wright brothers, and did learn to fly, taking her skills to the battlefields of France during World War I.
This is a very engaging story, particularly during the war, when Sabina met other women who were breaking out of their gender roles. I had thought that this book was based on a real person since there were female aviators at the beginning of flight, and I was disappointed that Sabina was fictional. However, her struggles not to be confined by her gender certainly rang true. This book paints an interesting portrait of America at the beginning of the 20th century, and I enjoyed it.
This is a very engaging story, particularly during the war, when Sabina met other women who were breaking out of their gender roles. I had thought that this book was based on a real person since there were female aviators at the beginning of flight, and I was disappointed that Sabina was fictional. However, her struggles not to be confined by her gender certainly rang true. This book paints an interesting portrait of America at the beginning of the 20th century, and I enjoyed it.
January 15, 2026
Sabina Rys and her younger brother follow their mother and stepfather from Poland to the United States in the early part of the twentieth century where they perform as wire artists in Vaudeville. This book is about how their careers move along in the States. Sabina has always wanted to fly an airplane. How she and other free spirited young women from that day and age reach the skies in their lighter than air machines is the gist of this book. It is good reading from a gifted word spinner. Mrs. Hughes turns her stories to life through good writing mechanics and good instincts.
Thank you, Mrs. Hughes, as always, for a good read.
Thank you, Mrs. Hughes, as always, for a good read.
January 14, 2026
An intriguing war story and more
Soaring Above is a really good story focused on a young woman before, during and after the first world war. There are so many insights into her life, hopes and dreams, as well as the experiences that made her who she became. It is a story of strength and courage and following one's heart.
There are some sexual situations that could have been either deleted or closed door. Other than that, I recommend the story.
Soaring Above is a really good story focused on a young woman before, during and after the first world war. There are so many insights into her life, hopes and dreams, as well as the experiences that made her who she became. It is a story of strength and courage and following one's heart.
There are some sexual situations that could have been either deleted or closed door. Other than that, I recommend the story.
January 15, 2026
A Prose Narrative of a Thrilling Life
We hear many stories about the "poor immigrants" -- a lot of negativity has been associated with them. Many others, such as Sabina Rys, the heroine of this novel embody the risk-taking element nearly all immigrants had in common. Sabina not only had the drive to survive in an alien landscape that was not always friendly to new arrivals, but she was also able to overcome their odds against her and ultimately thrive!
We hear many stories about the "poor immigrants" -- a lot of negativity has been associated with them. Many others, such as Sabina Rys, the heroine of this novel embody the risk-taking element nearly all immigrants had in common. Sabina not only had the drive to survive in an alien landscape that was not always friendly to new arrivals, but she was also able to overcome their odds against her and ultimately thrive!
January 18, 2026
I have admiration for women who paved the way for the rest of us.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews