 Today's book hangover is... The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischoff Wow! That was all I could originally say when I finished this book! It took me a while to process my thoughts and be able to write my review. About the Book Two worlds collide when the circus comes to Victorian-era Virginia. Raised amid the fame and mystique of the Big Top, Charlie Lionheart holds the audience in the palm of his hand. But while his act captivates thousands, it’s away from the spotlight where his true heart lies. Here he humbly cares for his pride of lions as if they were his brothers, a skill of bravery and strength that has prepared him for his most challenging feat yet—freeing an orphaned infant from the dark bondage of a sideshow. A trade so costly, it requires his life in exchange for hers, leaving him tarnished by the price of that choice. As the circus tents are raised on the outskirts of Roanoke, nurse Ella Beckley arrives to tend to this Gypsy girl. All under the watchful eye of a guardian who not only bears a striking resemblance to the child, but who protects the baby with a love that wraps around Ella’s own tragic past, awakening a hope that goodness may yet reign. When their forbidden friendship deepens, Charlie dares to ask for her heart, bringing her behind the curtain of his secret world to reveal the sacrifice that gave hope to one little girl—boldly showing Ella that while her tattered faith is deeply scarred, the only marks that need be permanent are his own. Check out my review of The Lady and the Lionheart HERE! About the Author A Carol Award and two-time Christy Award-finalist, Joanne Bischof writes deeply layered fiction that tugs at the reader’s heartstrings. She was honored to receive the SDCWG Novel of the Year Award in 2014 and in 2015 was named Author of the Year by the Mount Hermon Writer’s conference. Her 2014 novella This Quiet Sky broke precedent as the first self-released title to final for the Christy Awards. She lives in the mountains of Southern California with her husband and their three children.
 A Snippet from the Book...Roanoke, Virginia Spring, 1890 WITH THE HISS of smoothing irons and the starchy scent of soap trailing her, Ella toted a bundle of hospital linenes up the steps. Snowy evening light whispered cool and gray through the stairwell window of the converted townhouse, and after an afternoon spent below ground, even the sight of fog and gentle flakes bolstered her spirit. Something so simple, but these days--years, really--she was thankful for anything. The wind curled the snow in swirles down the street and she halted at a flash of color drifting along with it. A string of pennants. Wet with the weather, the vibrant strand of cheery flags tumbled along the snow. Ella stepped closer to the window, but they vanished from sight. What are you currently reading? What is your most recent book hangover? |
