"The Lady and the Lionheart" by Joanne Bischof

Ella has made a quiet life for herself as a maid in a hospital, shutting out as much of her soul-splitting pain as she could. Everything she knows changes drastically when Charlie Lionheart bursts into her life, little baby Holland in arms. With hardly two coins to rub together, Charlie is having trouble finding someone to care for his girl. Feeling the unjustness and a pull towards someone so small and helpless, Ella quits her job to dedicate a few days to nursing Holland with all the herbs and remedies she's been studying.

Charlie's home is far from normal. As a lion tamer with the circus, all of his belongings and responsibilities can be packed up in a couple of wagons. He knows he shouldn't be bringing the young nurse to his tent, not at the risk of what it could cost him where his contract is concerned, but Holland has never been so sick and there is no one else skilled in caring for her. He would - he has - given up everything for Holland, and he's not about to stop now.

While Ella enjoys tending to the baby, meeting Charlie's friends, and seeing the amazing sights around the circus, she worries about where to find a new job and how she's going to pay her rent. Maybe she should consider going home to her parents. But that would mean returning to the place where she endured so much agony. Agony that all comes back to the surface as she spends time with Charlie, caring and kind as he is.

Drawn to the serious and sweet woman, Charlie doesn't know how to tell her of the dark secrets in his own life. Secrets that would be inescapable were their relationship to become closer. He is counting down the days until the agreements that made Holland his are fulfilled and he is free of the evil lurking in the far corners of the circus.

This is a truly beautiful story. It's not without darkness, but it is so strong on hope and love. Joanne Bischof allows her characters the time to explore their emotions, to fully develop their feelings and draw readers in. This was a book I did not want to put down, and though it's the first Bischof I've read, I'm sure it won't be the last. I would give a word of caution that there are disturbing elements to this story and it is definitely not one for everyone. But it also has allegorical veins that point to the Bringer of Hope and Light and Love - Jesus Christ. Through Him we face our fears, our darkness. Through Him we have a future, no matter how cloudy it is at present. Through Him we have all we need. All in all.