What do you think?
Rate this book
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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 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 30, 2026
Jay813
Having read all of Amanda Hughes Bold Women books the author again turns to the unusual careers not often available for women of the time. This time it's heroine is Sabina who from an early age wanted to be a pilot. From her childhood working with her family as an aerealist in vaudeville to flying planes on secret missions during WWI in France to performing as a wing walker - stunt performer - at air shows to flying medical supplies & nurses to remote areas this book packs a lot in 284 pages. It was a fairly on read but somehow I found it lacking compared to the author's other novels. It was almost like it was hastily written however as usual the author has done her research.
Having read all of Amanda Hughes Bold Women books the author again turns to the unusual careers not often available for women of the time. This time it's heroine is Sabina who from an early age wanted to be a pilot. From her childhood working with her family as an aerealist in vaudeville to flying planes on secret missions during WWI in France to performing as a wing walker - stunt performer - at air shows to flying medical supplies & nurses to remote areas this book packs a lot in 284 pages. It was a fairly on read but somehow I found it lacking compared to the author's other novels. It was almost like it was hastily written however as usual the author has done her research.
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.
March 16, 2026
This is about a woman aerialist in vaudeville in the early 1900s. It tells of her family coming from Poland and how they got jobs, which told about life in that time. Sabina got hurt and learned about mechanics. First for cars and then planes. She meets several men and it is also about her relationship with them. She becomes a mechanic and then pilot flier in the war, and the story also tells of her time after flying for medical charity. Easy historical fiction but a lot about her relationships as well.
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!
February 1, 2026
A bit to "sweet" for me
I liked the idea of this book. A strong independent woman as the lead, but I couldn't relate to the style of writing which, for me, left out some of the darkness of the setting.
Sabina came across as a determined woman who achieved but I couldn't get the sense of the fight she would have had. She just seems to get what she wants.
There wasn't enough grit to the story for my liking.
I liked the idea of this book. A strong independent woman as the lead, but I couldn't relate to the style of writing which, for me, left out some of the darkness of the setting.
Sabina came across as a determined woman who achieved but I couldn't get the sense of the fight she would have had. She just seems to get what she wants.
There wasn't enough grit to the story for my liking.
February 20, 2026
An excellent read
Sabina had a hard life growing up. But once she discovered flying, her world changed tremendously. WW2 helped promote her love of flying and it allowed her to try things not normally available to women. After the war, with her friends, new opportunities became available. But would she find love??
Sabina had a hard life growing up. But once she discovered flying, her world changed tremendously. WW2 helped promote her love of flying and it allowed her to try things not normally available to women. After the war, with her friends, new opportunities became available. But would she find love??
January 18, 2026
I have admiration for women who paved the way for the rest of us.
February 1, 2026
Captivating reading. I couldn't put the book down
February 17, 2026
Exciting & interesting read!
April 22, 2026
Another great book by Amanda Hughes with an interesting setting and a good story.Keep them coming!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews