An ounce of courage. A leap of faith. Together, they propel two young women to chase a new life - one that's reimagined from what they might have become.
In turn-of-the-century America, a young girl dreams of a world that stretches beyond the confines of a quiet life on the family farm. With little more than her wit and a cigar box of treasures, Mable steps away from all she knows, seeking the limitless marvels of the Chicago World's Fair. There, a chance encounter triggers her destiny - a life with a famed showman by the name of John Ringling.
A quarter of a century later, Lady Rosamund Easling boards a ship to America as a last adventure before her arranged marriage. There, the twenties are roaring, and the rich and famous gather at opulent, Gatsby-esque parties. The Jazz Age has arrived, and with it, the golden era of the American circus, whose queen is none other than the enigmatic Mable Ringling.
When Rosamund's path crosses with Mable's and the Ringlings' glittering world, she makes the life-altering decision to leave behind a comfortable future of estates and propriety, choosing instead the nomadic life of a trick rider in the Ringling Brothers' circus.
A novel that is at once captivating, deeply poignant, and swirling with exquisite historical details of a bygone world, The Ringmaster's Wife will escort listeners into the center ring, with its bright lights, exotic animals, and a dazzling performance that can only be described as the Greatest Show on Earth!
Y'all, I haven't the words to express how much I loved this story. Since I spend at least an hour in the car each day, I've been listening to audiobooks during my commute. Let me tell you, this one was spot on. From a strictly audio perspective- The fact that this narrator swapped back and forth among accents (British, Irish, American, French, and Italian) so frequently and without missing a beat was completely bizarre and totally impressive. The story itself... the time jumping was well done. The romance was slow and sweet. The story was one that I cared about. The characters were dear to me. Seeing the parallels between the lives of Mable and Rosamund was *chef's kiss* because my nerdy heart was loving it. My one complaint is that I felt that the character of Mable was one that I really wanted to be attached to because the other characters were so attached to her, but her POV faded off towards the second half of the book. I would've loved to have her still be a strong voice in my head so I could know her as an old lady as well as I did her younger self. Overall, getting me into the circus vibe and making me want to reread all the circus books I've ever read. Recommended for lovers of the circus life, sweet romance, time slip, and the magician that is Kristy Cambron.
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