Thanks to two wonderful books, my sensitive heart was left in pieces twice this week. A rare thing. Allow me to share them with you. Both are available now. Both are worth your time.
Hope Between the Pages, by Pepper Basham, is a dual timeline story. Set in Asheville, North Carolina, the modern plot follows Clara Blackwell, a bookseller struggling to maintain the family business. A trek to England weaves in the story of Clara’s great-grandmother Sadie, a plucky young woman who once worked at the Biltmore Mansion and followed her heart across the sea. There is mystery, intrigue, profound loss, and unusual romances in both time periods. The strong family connections and class distinctions add extra elements of thought-provoking drama in this surprising find by an author I’ve read before, but only an advanced copy rom-com. Pepper Basham’s historical fiction is definitely where her strength lies. 9/10 Stars
The Lady and the Lionheart is by Joanne Bischof, one of the BEST author discoveries I’ve made in 2023. You’ll recall my recent glowing reviews of her Blackbird Mountain series. The Lady and the Lionheart is another beautiful, heart-wrenching novel that touches on the themes of trusting God and rising above our challenges. Set mostly in a Victorian-era circus, we follow lion tamer Charlie Lionheart as he cares for his infant niece. The baby’s high fever brings him to Ella, a nurse-in-training with her own tragic past. Compassionate Ella sees beyond Charlie’s profession and scandalous appearance. There is so much depth and nuance to this book, I do not want to reveal too much except to say it is a masterful piece of writing. Strangely, it parallels well with the contemporary More Than We Can Tell, by Brigid Kemmerer. If I was still in college I would write a paper about these two books. Read The Lady and the Lionheart. You’ll be glad you did. It deserves much more applause and acclaim than I can give it here. 9.5/10 Stars
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