Diana's Review Of The Lady And The Lionheart By Joanne Bischof

The Lady And The Lionheart By Joanne Bischof

The Lady And The Lionheart
By Joanne Bischof
Mason Jar Books, July 2016

Reviewed By Diana Flowers
~5 Stars!~
(No spoilers!)

An Achingly Beautiful Novel! 

Roanoke, Virginia 1890

Author Joanne Bischof  has penned a poignant, hauntingly beautiful romance set amidst the exciting scents, sounds, and entertaining thrills of the Big Top—and of a lovely young woman who inadvertently gets tangled up in a web of darkness and secrets that takes place behind the scenes of this mysterious world.

After suffering from an unspeakable act at the age of fifteen, Ella Beckley lives an unobtrusive, quiet life as an employee for Dr. Penske—running errands, boiling water, and tidying the scullery. Deeply scarred by her past, her shame has driven her away from her home and God as well, and she is content to live her bleak, drab existence...that is until Charlie Lionheart enters her life. Mr. Lionheart is an enigma - a handsome, charming gypsy whose courageous act in the circus both terrifies and captivates thousands. He humbly cares for his pride of majestic lions with love and skill, and gives his very life in exchange for an orphaned baby—a trade that costs him a terribly high price.

Lionheart enlists Ella's help with the sick baby and as she arrives at the circus, her forbidden friendship with him deepens and she learns the true depth of this man's sacrifice for this gypsy child. Suffering in his own dark, secret world of adversity, will Lionheart's faith and love be the key that unlocks the suffocating fear that envelopes Ella—awakening the promise of new hope and inward healing—and perhaps even romance?

Breathtaking, fascinating, mesmerizing...there just aren't enough adjectives to describe this achingly beautiful novel! Charlie Lionheart was the ultimate hero, who with his animal magnetism (sorry - couldn't resist) not only held the captive audience in the palm of his hands, but my heart as well! The scenes with the massive lions were so well written and realistic, that I, too, felt the heart-pounding terror and fascination along with the crowd. Not to mention the angst-filled, toe-curling romance—ahh, such sweet torment. My emotions soared throughout this entire book and when I reached the lovely conclusion I sadly, with tear-filled eyes, said goodbye to some of the most endearing characters to ever grace the pages of a novel. As a matter of fact, please meet them below! Joanne Bischof has stolen my heart and deeply touched my soul with her writing, and I'm convinced she will yours, too.

The Heroes And Heroines From One Of  My Fave Books Ever! (Used With Author's Permission )

This book may be purchased through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

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Bonnie reviews The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischof

The Lady and the Lionheart

The Lady and the Lionheart
by Joanne Bischof
Mason Jar Books (July 26, 2016)

Reviewed by Bonnie Roof
5 Stars *****

"Permanent may be the scars that we bear, but there is a love that makes all things new".

Roanoke, Virginia - Spring 1890

Lugging an armload of linens up the stairs, Ella Beckley hears violent footsteps from behind before a bear of a man rushes past with a baby in his arms, nearly crashing into her and scattering the linens. Ella, a woman with little schooling and self-taught nursing skills, works in the scullery of Dr. Penske's private practice - which caters to Roanoke's upper crust. Thus begins her relationship with Charlie Lionheart, a Romani Gypsy descendant and lion tamer with Graven Brothers Circus - which has been stranded and detained in the town by unexpected snow.

Assisting with patients only when necessary, Ella has never treated a patient herself. Too quickly diagnosing the baby as having a simple fever, the doctor assigns Ella to her care. With gentle but intensive protectiveness, Charlie remains by the baby's bed overnight - soothing her hot body with cold cloths and chips of ice, whispering words from a hymn. Returning to work the following morning, Ella is greeted by shouts from Charlie's terrorizing the hospital as the feverish baby is being dismissed and sent home. Charlie, having only a handful of coins with him and the doctor suspicious of Charlie, feeling his hand tattoo an indication of a felon. Feeling the baby could have rheumatic fever and recalling the pain of the death of her own infant several years prior, Ella risks her job by leaving work, unauthorized, and follows Charlie back to his tent/wagon home at the circus, bringing her bag of herbs, roots, and medicines to treat baby Holland. Charlie also breaking the rules by bringing a "rube" (outsider) into the privacy of his circus life.

Scarred from her pregnancy by a stranger, the birthing of her son at the age of barely 15 years, the baby's  death after living only a couple of hours, and being branded a harlot by her community - Ella had fled her home and arrived in Roanoke several years prior, in search of a better life. Charlie has hidden secrets also, enduring untold pain to free an orphaned infant from a permanent life in the circus.

Joanne Bischof has written a mesmerizing and unforgettable story of life in a circus and a tender, touching romance between a woman who has turned her back on her faith and a courageous, gentle, man who embraces his faith in his determination to protect those he loves. The depth of the characters and their emotions and struggles, the realism of life in a circus - it's animals and performers, Charlie's love and brotherly care for his three lions - Han, Kristov, and Axel, kept me engrossed in a story that warmed my heart, elicited tears, and inspired me with it's elements of hope, forgiveness, and redemption. It's a 5+ star novel and re-telling of Beauty and the Beast - whose characters remain with me, it's depth of beauty truly adequately indescribable!

*I was provided a PDF of 'The Lady and the Lionheart' by it's author for my honest opinion - which I have given. 

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You may purchase this book from these and other places: AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE

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