A Bookchat about The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple with Joanna Davidson Politano 

Joanna Davidson Politano joins us for a chat about her favorite writing stages, being a mom, silent films, and her latest release The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of this great book! 

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A Bookchat about The Hidden Prince with Tessa Afshar & a Review of The Lost Melody by Joanna Davidson Politano

Tessa Afshar joins us for a chat about biblical fiction, ancient history, and her latest release The Hidden Prince. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of this great book!

For today’s Pinch of the Past, Michelle Griep joins us to share 3 Types of Victorian Travel. You might guess that the “penny-farthing” got its name from the cost of fare, but it has to do with the size of the coins. (Full post here.) Her book The Bride of Blackfriar’s Lane shows some of these transportation methods in action!

Today’s Bookworm Review is brought to you by Christie K. “In The Lost Melody, Politano creates another fantastic story with an undercurrent of foreboding, seemingly insurmountable obstacles, a forbidden romance, and a heroine who is determined to find her path through it all.” (Full review here.)

 Connect with Tessa: Newsletter (scroll down), Amazon, Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Lost Melody by Joanna Davidson Politano

The audio version of this review was first shared in A Bookchat about The Hidden Prince with Tessa Afshar & a Review of The Lost Melody by Joanna Davidson Politano

The Book

When concert pianist Vivienne Mourdant’s father dies, he leaves to her the care of an adult ward she knew nothing about. The woman is supposedly a patient at Hurstwell Asylum. The woman’s portrait is shockingly familiar to Vivienne, so when the asylum claims she was never a patient there, Vivienne is compelled to discover what happened to the figure she remembers from childhood dreams.

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Episode 22: Guest Katherine Reay & a Review of A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano

Interview: Our guest today is a national bestselling and award-winning author Katherine Reay. Join us for a chat about her latest release The London House.

Pinch of the Past: Do you enjoy a good spy thriller? I know I do, movie or book. We often see spy thrillers set in a modern-day, Cold War, and both World Wars. For this Pinch of the Past, we are going to look even further back into history, all the way back to the Revolutionary War. Did you know that there were female spies for George Washington? Yep. One, in particular, is referred to so briefly in code that she is known simply as Agent 355.

Our Bookworm Review features A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano. We highly recommend this book to readers who are in the mood for a charming romance and a story that pulls apart a preconceived life and fills it with God’s better plan. 

Links: 

Full blog posts for our Pinch of the Past A Revolutionary War Female Spy and our Bookworm Review of A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano

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A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano

The Book

https://amzn.to/3Owk4r3All theater romances are tragedies. Ella Blythe knows this. Still, she cannot help but hope her own story may turn out different than most–and certainly different than the tragic story of the Ghost of Craven Street Theater. Yet as she struggles to maintain her tenuous place in the ever-shrinking ballet company, win the attentions of principal dancer Philippe, and avoid company flirt Jack, Ella cannot deny the uncanny feeling that her life is mirroring that of the dead ballerina.

The Review

Every book Politano writes gets better and better and this one certainly tops the list. This story is filled with twists and turns that don’t stop all the way to the end, and a very sweet love story thread throughout. The characters are woven together in such a way to have their own distinct story, which also culminates into a lovely tapestry of life at the end. The history of the ballet and the spirit with which Ella dances highlight the author’s intensive research and masterfully weaves together history and plot in an intriguing way.

Romance: The romance is sweet with some tender moments. (Loved the interactions between the main two characters, which isn’t always clear initially)

Violence: Very minimal. One scene, really.

Christianese: There are Bible verses sprinkled throughout and Ella’s relationship and perception of God is a steady conversation during the entire story but it never feels preachy. It adds depth to her character and the way she interacts with others in her environment.  Acceptance and grace are big themes.

Highly recommend this book to readers who are in the mood for a charming romance and a story that pulls apart a preconceived life and fills it with God’s better plan.

This review was originally shared on episode 22.

Disclaimer: The publisher offered a complimentary copy of this book. The review was given freely, without payment. All views expressed are only the honest opinion of a member of the Historical Bookworm Review Team.

The Author

Joanna Davidson Politano freelances for a small nonfiction publisher but spends much of her time spinning tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives. Her manuscript for Lady Jayne Disappears was a finalist for several contests, including the 2016 Genesis Award from ACFW, and won the OCW Cascade Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence. She is always on the hunt for random acts of kindness, people willing to share their deepest secrets with a stranger, and hidden stashes of sweets. She lives with her husband and their two babies in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan and shares stories that move her at www.jdpstories.com.

Episode 21: Guest Joanna Davidson Politano & a Review of The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery

Join us and guest Joanna Davidson Politano as she chats about her latest novel A Midnight Dance. She loves tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives and is eager to hear anyone’s story. She lives with her husband and their kids in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan.

Last week’s Pinch of the Past was so fun we split it into two segments. Enjoy learning about the origins of Red Velvet Cake and a vegetarian dish made of necessity during WWII.

On our Bookworm Review, we feature The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox. If you’re seeking a redeeming story involving the unbreakable, but sometimes fragile relationships between mothers and daughters, The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery is a must read. You can find the entire written review here.