Beyond the Horizon

by

Ella Carey

Historical Fiction / Friendship

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Date of Publication: October 15, 2019

Number of Pages: 326

Scroll down for the giveaway!

From the author of The House by the Lake comes a powerful novel of friendship during World War II, fighting for the truth, and making peace with the past.

At the height of World War II, Eva Scott’s dream comes true. Accepted into the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), she leaves balmy California and the man she loves for grueling training in Texas, ultimately landing at formidable Camp Davis in North Carolina.

Vastly outnumbered by men and amid contempt, discrimination, and sabotage, Eva and her closest friends, the unconventional Nina and straight-laced Helena, remain loyal to their mission and to each other. They stay focused on the horizon, determined to prove themselves capable women pilots. Until a fatal mission sends Eva’s dream crashing to earth . . .

Now, decades later, is it possible to discover the truth about the night that changed her life? Is there any hope she’ll recover all that she’s lost? When Eva finds herself embroiled in the fight to get military recognition for the WASP, she’s forced to confront the past and to make a decision that could forever change her future.

Thrilling and inspiring, Beyond the Horizon is a portrait of love, friendship, and valor in a time of war—and a tribute to the brave women who risked their lives for their country.

Praise

“With snappy dialogue, impressive historical details, a sense of adventure and courage on every page, and even a love story, Ella Carey has hit all the markers that make fine historical fiction.” —Ann Howard Creel, bestselling author of The Whiskey Sea

“Fans of inspirational World War II fiction will cheer on Eva and her fellow pilots as they chase their dreams, endure heartbreak, and discover their true strength. Carey’s evocative descriptions bring home the exhilaration of flight—and the everyday indignities endured by young women who challenged the expectations of their time. The story’s final twist makes for a surprising and moving conclusion.” —Elizabeth Blackwell, author of On a Cold Dark Sea and In the Shadow of Lakecrest

“A moving, beautifully written novel about the amazing WASP during WWII. True to life and packed full of emotion. I thoroughly enjoyed feeling like I was one of these extraordinary women pilots as I read the story.” —Soraya M. Lane, Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Girls of Pearl Harbor

There is so much in history that I don’t know and this book brings to light another aspect of WWII, the female pilots in the US that helped support our military troops.  I’m talking about WASP – Women Airforce Service Pilots.  This group of women did things to assist the military in training the men for combat – like pulling targets in the air for men to shoot at to perfect their aim.  That takes some guts to be willing to drag a target and be shot at in the air!

While this book is fiction it is based on real places and events. This enabled me to learn more while enjoying the story about a band of women that forged a bond over planes and their love of flying.  These women endured many hardships during their five month training at Avenger Field in Sweetwater Texas, but it made them stronger both physically and mentally.

The story opens in 1977 at a farmer’s market and Eva’s son rushes up to her informing her that someone is trying to get the WASP recognized as part of the military for everything they did during the war.  This simple action brings back some memories for Eva but not many as we learn she was in a horrible accident which wiped that event from her memory.  Eva’s story unfolds as she decides to assist by testifying in front of Congress about her time in the WASP.  Each chapter opens with a question from Congress followed by Eva’s response.  If you have ever listened to inquiries by a congressional committee, they are very dry and sometimes you have to wonder if someone thought about the question before asking.  We are then brought back in time as events unfolded in Sweetwater, California, and North Carolina over the span of about a year and followed a small band of women – Eva, Nina, Rita, and Helena as the primary group.  We follow their lives, the rough conditions they endured while training, the lack of respect from many men, the fear of washing out from the slightest impropriety, to the success of earning their wings at the end of the training.

Eva is the main focus of the story, and for a woman in the 1940s, she is progressive thanks to the influence of her father.  Her mother is fairly typical of the time and only wants to see Eva married with children.  Thankfully, Eva’s dreams a bigger and brighter.  Eva’s mom was annoying at times, but that is my perception based on being born and raised decades later.  Eva has two close friends, Harry and Nina.  Harry works with Eva at the Lockheed facility and teaches her to fly, including some intense training once she is accepted as a WASP.  Harry is also Eva’s first love but unfortunately he doesn’t see her in the same light.  Nina has the same dream as Eva, to fly through the skies.  Both women feel a sense of peace when up in the clouds.  Being accepted to the WASP program is a way for Eva and Nina to spread their wings beyond their community in Burbank CA.

I was enraptured by this story from beginning to end. The intertwining of stories from the past to the present, the joy and heartbreak that the characters endure.  There were some surprising twists and turns that caught me by surprise and Eva too since it affected her life.  Because many of these happened near the end I won’t go into detail since some of it is spoilers.  But suffice it to say that I wondered about the motivation of some of the characters, especially Jack who Eva eventually marries.

There were a few lines that stood out to me while reading that I feel captured the essence of the story the author is telling.

“Mom, Dad, have you ever experienced a true taste of freedom?  Have you ever known what it feels like to soar, high over the land? Its as if nothing matters when you are up there.  It’s as damned close to infinity as you can get.”

“Ever since Meg died, I feel like I’ve been just existing.  Pushing one foot after the other.  Nothing feels alive anymore.  But when I’m up in the sky with you….”

“It’s an opportunity that women of my generation would never have had.  That’s why I say it’s doubly important.”

“The freedom to fly and be paid for it.  The chance to contribute in a real way to our country and to the war.”

“We need to keep today with us.  Always. We need to remember the women who dies flying for the WASP. We must not pretend our time as WASP never happened.”

“The gavel came down on the WASP bill, and the House of Representatives moved straight on to the next matter in two seconds flat.”       

This is a story for anyone that loves to fly or enjoys learning about WWII history.  I learned a lot and enjoyed the author’s notes at the end that told about her personal connection and interest in this subject.  We give this book 4 paws up.

Ella Carey is the international bestselling author of The Things We Don’t Say, Secret Shores, From a Paris Balcony, The House by the Lake, and Paris Time Capsule. Her books have been published in over fourteen countries, in twelve languages. Her sixth novel is Beyond The Horizon, set around the Women Air Force Service Pilots during World War Two.

Ella is incredibly excited to share this book with her readers, as her mother was a W.A.A.A.F during World War Two, and her father was in the R.A.F, flying airplanes over occupied France. Ella travelled to Sweetwater, Texas, to research the novel, and is grateful to Ann Hobing, the then Executive Director of the WASP museum for sharing her wonderful knowledge of the WASP. Ella also worked with two pilots to craft the flight scenes.

Ella loves to connect with her readers For more information on the background to her novels and updates about her next release, and to contact her about appearances at your local book club, please visit her website.

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THREE PAPERBACK COPIES OF BEYOND THE HORIZON

OCTOBER 17-27, 2019

(U.S. Only)

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