Bold Women of the 20th Century Book 2
Book Blurb:
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.
My Review:
Wow, I missed those bold women that Ms Hughes writes about so eloquently! It’s been a while, and I’m delighted to review the latest in the Bold Women series—this one of the early 20th Century who blazes new contrails in the sky.
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 with her family 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 behind 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. It’s easy to picture a cavernous aerodrome or hear the strains of “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary” and “Over There.”
“She knew what she lacked in marksmanship; she made up for in flying…”
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 when women were no longer accepted in the service of flying. A fascinating twist on the old “when one door closes, another opens.” Not the first in the narrative, but a brainchild that gets the mind spinning.
“There is only one constant and that is change.”
And yes, the relationship between Sabrina and Julian is a tough one. There is enough push and pull to keep it real. Both are singularly independent, strong willed and passionate in their idea of duty and use of their gifts, 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.
Book Details:
Genre: Historical World War I Fiction, World War I Historical Fiction
ASIN: B0FMKHMPD7
Print Length: 292 pages
Publication Date: August 28, 2025
Source: Author
Title Link(s):
Amazon-US | Amazon-UK
The Author: Amanda Hughes Bestselling Author of the Bold Women Series
Amanda Hughes splashes the pages with gritty adventures and love stories about audacious women through the centuries. Her page-turning tales will keep you on the edge of your seat as you take wild rides through dramatic and dazzling periods of history.
Bold Women of the 17th Century
Bold Women of the 18th Century
Bold Women of the 19th Century
Bold Women of the 20th Century
Bestselling and award-winning author, Amanda Hughes is a “Walter Mitty”, spending more time in heroic daydreams than the real world. At last, she found an outlet writing adventures about bold women through the centuries. Well known for her genre-busting books, she is the winner of the Gems National Medal for Writing, featured in USA Today and is nominated for the 2017 Minnesota Book Award. Amanda is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, and when she isn’t off tilting windmills, she lives and writes in Minnesota. Don’t miss these page-turning novels for readers who like historical fiction with a just bit of a love story. All of her books are stand-alone and can be read in any order.
The Bold Women of the 17th Century: The Firefly Witch Book 1, The Sea Bandits Book 2, Painting with Fire Book 3
The Bold Women Series of the 18th Century: Beyond the Cliffs of Kerry Book 1, The Pride of the King Book 2, The Sword of the Banshee Book 3
The Bold Women Series of the 19th Century: The Grand Masquerade Book 1, Vagabond Wind Book 2, The House of Five Fortunes Book 3
The Bold Women Series of the 20th Century: Beneath a Blazing Sky Book 1, The Looking Glass Goddess Book 2, The Image Seeker Book 3
Interested in her new books or need more information? Go to http://www.amandahughesauthor.com
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