The Lady And The Lionheart by Joanne Bischof

Where Two Worlds Collide

LadyThe Lady And The Lionheart by Joanne Bischof is a historical Christian romance that will remain long after the last page is read. It is a pure delight and I loved it.

The pages of the novel really come alive with Joanne Bischof’s descriptions of the circus. The reader can almost smell the greasepaint and feel the excitement as the crowds gather to gaze in wonder.

There is a wonderful feeling of camaraderie. The circus is made up of all sorts of different people with different talents. They have no fixed abode but they make a home in their hearts for all. “Home to me has always been with my family.”

The novel is about healing. There is physical healing and there is a healing of hearts. The past hurts that have been firmly held on to need to be let go and the future grabbed. “The hurts… followed… they lived within.” The past can rob us of the future if we do not let it go.

God is at the heart of the novel. Charlie Lionheart chats to Him daily. “I simply talk to God.” He also clings to Him when life gets tough. “I am nothing without God.” In contrast Ella has pushed God away. Her dealings with so called Christians have coloured her view of God. Ella needs to realise that God is not man and He grieves for the actions of His children. Ella believes that her past means she is far from God but there is “No chasm too deep where He couldn’t reach down.”

There is the theme of identity within the novel. The past has branded Charlie in a way that makes him feel unnoticed. “Please see me.” There is a need to be really seen. To look past the outward appearance and look into the heart. This reminds the reader that God looks at our inward appearance. He sees the real person and we find our identity in Him.

The novel shows the importance of knowing God and His word. In times of difficulty quoting scripture can bring comfort. One of the characters “…clings to hymns in times of doubt or fear.”

There is a beautiful love story within The Lady And The Lionheart. It is gently bubbling along under the surface and really speaks to the reader’s heart.

Within the novel there is the theme of trust. It is trust of God, between humans and also between man and beast.

There are three lions in the story. These can be seen as a motif for God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The lions need to be treated with respect as there is great power in them to destroy. Likewise God is both loving and giving but He has a power in Him that you do not want to see unleashed. We need to treat Him with the respect He deserves.

I absolutely loved The Lady And The Lionheart. I always love Joanne Bischof’s books but this one really is something special. I felt totally immersed in the pages of the book. I did not just read about life in the circus, I experienced it as I ‘lived’ through the pages of the novel.

A wonderful book.
I received this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review.  No monetary compensation was received and all views expressed are my own.

JULIA WILSON

 

 

 

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