I had trouble getting into this book. It was a split time novel about an airplane pilot during World War two. I have learned that this particular topic is not my favorite. I have enjoyed other books by Ella Carey. Even though I did not enjoy this book as much, if the topic interests you, I recommend picking up this story.


I received this book from netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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I absolutely love Ella Carey's books and her newest "Beyond the Horizon" is really, really good. This story initially takes place in WWII when Eva Scott’s is accepted into the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). So much going on in this story from boot camp, a mission that ended fatefully, and finally trying to get recognition years later. So good. If you enjoy History you'll love this book, and if you don't you're still going to love this book.

I really enjoy reading books of historical fiction and when the book is set during WWII, then I am hooked! The focus of women who were a part of the women’s air force service pilots is inspirational. The danger they experience from the men on the bases and their judgmental discrimination and sabotage is atrocious. The friendships developed, secrets discovered, and accomplishments realized make this an excellent read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoutre for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

The WASPS have always been an inspiration of mine. The way that Ella wove their story completely drew me in and brought to life those amazing and strong women. Eva’s story is told in both 1977 as Congress was deciding on whether to acknowledge WASPS as military and 1944 during the height of the war. It was difficult seeing how Eva struggles through PTSD and how hard she fought through it with no support and I cried with her. Her relationship with her son Alex is absolutely beautiful and reminds me of how amazing and caring my own sons are. Every character in the story is so real and raw and shows just how different and painful those years during and after the war were. This book will be one of the best you read this year!

I have mixed feelings about this book. The story was interesting and well written, but it just moved a little slowly for me. I did like the ending though and am glad I finished the book.

Beyond the Horizon was a wonderful novel about friendship and what women’s lives were like during World War II. I enjoyed the way the women’s pilot experience during the war was portrayed. Eva leaves for training for the WASP, Women Airfirce Service Pilots, along with her best friend from childhood. Eva’s mother is very disappointed that she is leaving. But Eva is determined to join the WASP and can’t wait to fly with the military. The women endure tough training and difficult weather, among other things. One day there is an accident and when Eva recovers she is sent home. She never speaks to any of the women again and she can’t remember what happened the night of the accident. Thirty years later, she still doesn’t understand what happened. She joins some others who are trying to get the WASP to be recognized as full military service.

This was an excellent read with a strong cast of characters. I really enjoyed the story and the characters were well-drawn. I definitely recommend this book, especially to historical fiction fans.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this. I will be posting a full review to Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram.

“Right now, the war seemed as endless and formidable as this journey across Texas.”

AUDIO BOOK REVIEW. 4.5 STARS. BEYOND THE HORIZON is an outstanding story about the brave WASP women who played a vital but underappreciated role in WWII. Author Ella Carey makes the characters pop to life, and readers will feel the emotions of the characters' triumphs and trials pouring from the pages.

Carey sets the story in the '70s as the main character is at congressional hearings trying to get the WASPs recognition for their military service. (I love that MC Eva is now in her 50s and reinventing herself -- or rather, she's finding herself again.) The congressional hearings are a great mechanism that provides the historical facts and information about the program to get readers up to speed about the women pilots. But it is the flashbacks that run parallel to the hearings that give readers the story to connect with the book. Clearly, Carey did her research to not only understand the women of the WASP, but to understand the setting and conditions of living in Sweetwater, Texas.

The audio book narrator, Jessie Vilinsky, was excellent and convincingly pulled-off most of the various voices of both men and women. (Most, not all. The Texas accents, for this Texan anyhow, were painful.) I did have some issues finding the sweet spot for listening; regular speed was too slow, but bumping to even 1.25x made everyone sound too excited. I eventually settled in with the faster speed and forgot about any issues because the story being told was so immersive.

“She was flying, and flying made everything worthwhile.”

There are a couple of holes in the plot and one piece of the story that stretched my ability to suspend my disbelief about how BFFs behave over the long haul, but overall, I highly recommend BEYOND THE HORIZON as an audio book escape for any reader.

I heard about this book on its Lone Star Lit Book Blog Tour and didn't want to miss out, so I purchased the audio book.

This was an enjoyable read. It will draw you in and leave you wanting a bit more. Eva is a character that you can relate to, and as a female veteran, it made it even more relatable to me.

I read this book in one sitting, as it was one that you do not want to put down at all!

In 1977 Los Angeles, Eva is at a farmers’ market when her eighteen-year-old son Alex comes rushing over and nearly knocks her shopping bag of mandarin oranges. Her husband, Jack, follows behind, attempting to snatch a piece of paper out of Alex’s hand. Eva sits down, Jack peels her an orange, and she reads the paper. It’s a poster asking former Women’s Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs), to support a petition to lobby Congress for recognition as part of the military and appear before a committee in Washington. Eva was a WASP during WWII, and although she hasn’t talked about her service for nearly thirty years, from the aroma of the mandarin orange, her memories flood back to her, particularly of that one eventful night. Eva decides to travel to Washington despite Jack’s surprising protests. Her appearance before the Congressional committee hearings forces her to recall her time during training and service as a pilot for the WASPs. Her efforts force her to reassess certain events, which she’d either wrongly assumed or had been misled about by certain individuals. Eva resolves to seek the truth.

Ella Carey has penned this unusual wartime novel to bring out the courage, bravery, and sacrifice these women pilots made while flying for the WASPs. Some of the events are based on true anecdotes that Carey researched. Through Eva’s eyes, we see the intense training and preparations these women endured. Their endeavor was difficult not only from its physical aspects but also from the gender biases they were subjected to by their male colleagues and others. But it was not all hard work. There were moments of entertainment, laughter, love, and unfortunate sorrow. During WWII, thirty-eight women pilots lost their lives. This book is dedicated to them. Highly recommended.

This review appeared in the HNR Magazine Issue 90 (November 2019)

I would give it 2.5 stars. Usually I love historical fiction books about women in WWII, but I found it hard to get into the story. I started this book four months ago and finally finished it. The beginning was very slow and took forever to actually get to the flying training in Texas. I enjoyed the parts of the book that were about Eva and her friends at Avenger Field and Camp Davis. I wasn't a fan of the 1977 hearing and the back and forth between the Committee and Eva. It seemed like they repeated the same stuff over and over. It detracted from the story (for me). Why didn't Eva tell Harry how she felt? Eva was such a strong woman and when she returns from Camp Davis, she allows her mom and Jack to make all her decisions. I was not a fan of Jack or Ruth(Eva's mom). Ruth just wanted Eva to marry a man with money and never supported her daughter's flying dream. Why didn't anyone tell Eva what happened during the accident?? It was the utmost betrayal. Jack and her family weren't helping her cope with what happened, they just wanted her to forget about it and get over it.

I thought the book was going to more about flying and and WWII. I loved the relationships the girls made with each other during training. The book just wasn't the right fit for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A must read for historical fiction fans! Women pilots in WWII. Incredible, inspiring and also heartbreaking. An Unforgettable ride! Highly recommended!

I’ve been reading and reviewing Ella Carey’s work since she published her very first novel, and I’ve been a fan of her work almost as long, so when I had the opportunity to read and review Beyond the Horizon, there was no question that I was excited to do so.

What I did not expect to find was a deep connection to the piece. This novel is about a woman named Eva who was a WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) during World War II. Set in both the late 1970s, (which is now technically historical even though it’s when I grew up) against a Congressional commission to accept women pilots in the general air force, with flashbacks to the 40s and the war, this novel moves between time periods effortlessly. You always know when you are, but each period is written with equal vividness.

So, why the deep connection? I have a great-aunt who, while not a WASP, was an army medic in WWII, and, like Eva, part of her story involves the fact that the women who served in that war were not always given the appropriate acknowledgement for their contributions.

Even without a personal connection, this novel is a rich and fascinating read. It’s an historical adventure with a dash of romance – Eva’s only love is not the sky, after all – but it’s also a very human examination of the choices we make as we grow up, and grow older, and the compromises we sometimes make between our dreams and our necessities.

One detail that I really liked was the image of oranges, used in the opening scene at a 1977 farmers’ market and then in a flashback when the woman wanted oranges that were reserved for the men. Oranges seemed to be a symbol of freedom and identity in this novel, and it was a subtle touch I really appreciated.

Ella Carey’s novels are always well crafted, and this book is no exception. If you like stories that are both gentle and frank, while still compelling, read Beyond the Horizon.

Goes well with fresh oranges and cappuccino.

I continue to be surprised by the number of secrets women keep. Ella Carey's Beyond the Horizon told me of yet another incredible war secret, again held by women who are basically of the silent generation. The story humanized the events and helped me celebrate at last knowing of heroic WASP sacrifice and effort. It also make me glad that we've come a long way with our attitudes to women in service! It also taught me something about Sweetwater, Texas, that I never knew, and I wish I had. Imagine, the WASPs in training there, rattlesnakes, scorpions, and all.

I loved that Beyond the Horizon, at it's core, is more of a love affair of flying, girl power, and sorority. There are some relationship stories and affairs tucked in, but "can they or can't they" is the central question the book answers. I enjoyed reading of a real sense of "we're in this together," and "let's keep fighting."

Eva Scott and her pilot sisters were brave and fought hard, and that is a great image I'll never forget. Some of the men in the book were huge helps, others not so much, still others greatly fought against the women and their war efforts. It's great as a reader to see what feels to be reality reflected.

Structurally, the book reveals events after short transcripts of Eva in later life attempting to help the WASPs gain official recognition. I think that story is just as powerful and feel that more story development for that fight could have had even more impact for the reader. There wasn't much connectivity to that bit, other than to highlight the reality that what these women did was fraught with danger and was not meaningless. So, I enjoyed the book but was also left with questions. Bottom line is, I didn't know a thing about the WASPS. Now I know a story I'll never forget!

Thank you to the author and publisher for giving me a copy of the book in exchange for a true review.

This book has the perfect ending but I can’t explain why because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. The main character of this book Eva is portrayed as such a strong, independent woman. It’s too bad the one person who leads to her losing her way after her accident is her mother. The other WASP girls were so great and it was refreshing to read about this group of women who supported each other through a tough program. I really enjoyed the way each chapter began with the present day then faded back to the past. Ella Carey is fast becoming a favourite author.

“Ferrying planes around might seem glamorous and exciting, but believe me, the excitement will wear thin once the reality of military training hits.”

I have thoroughly enjoyed Ella Carey’s previous novels (found HERE) and looked forward to her latest story which recalls the heartbreaking story of the Women's Airforce Service Pilots(WASP) program during WWII. A definite must read for historical fiction fans.

I was intrigued by the whole premise as the WASP program was not something that I was familiar with. The way Ella has also structured the novel demonstrates that the recognition these women were owed was still an outstanding and ongoing issue. Written both during the war period of 1944 and then later at the Hearing of 1977, it is a dual timeline that works well. The snippets given from the Hearing are just enough to both highlight the battle for recognition and lead into the next passage from the supporting storyline of the war period, providing an in depth view of the events.

Although the story is a little slow in parts laden with many flying details, you cannot help but appreciate the accuracy and detail regarding the untold story of these courageous and selfless women whose valiant efforts and sacrifices provided essential support to the war effort. I believe the author captures well the difficult journey these women endured from their flight training, to the rampant sexism of the time, to the logistical difficulties and the heartbreak of losing fellow pilots.

Fans of unique historical fiction are bound to appreciate this tale as it provides a realistic portrayal of both the facts and fallout of this program for WWII. Were they to be accepted as part of the official military campaign or were they just supportive civilians?

Are you telling the committee that you honestly believe your contribution to the war effort was equal to any man’s in the war and so you were worthy of a full military release?





This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Beyond the Horizon is a story of the truly courageous women in the WASPS during WWII and their fight to become recognised as a military force. Ella Carey combines fact and fiction beautifully, and her characters all bring the story to life. These women faced prejudices just for being women, not just during WWII but as they went back to their "normal" lives after the war and even by Congress as they fought for their recognition.
The only weak part of the book is the very end, a bit cliched but other than that a really great read.
I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to read/review this book due to other commitments. I will certainly update this review if/when I have the chance to read the book. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

Why oh why can we not have half stars for reviews? '
Beyond the Horizon was definitely a really good read but a few small things make it not 5 stars for me. I would still recommend it for an interesting glimpse into a time where women were supposed to be quiet, meek little things who stayed home or went to work during WWII understanding that men were still in charge and still 'better'.
Eva joins the WASPs (Women Airforce Service Pilots) and the book is a dual timeline from her time in the WASPs and YEARS later where her husband wants her to forget her time but their teenage son wants to know more.
The dual timeline and Eva's struggles in the 70s really helped show how women were not seen for what they did but expected to do it at the same time. We asked them to help us and to take on 'male roles' at home during WWII but denied them the continuance of them and the benefits of those roles.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.