An ounce of courage. A split-second 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 to call her own, Mable steps away from … own, 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 of Yorkshire, England, boards a ship to America as a last adventure before her life is planned out for her. There, the twenties are roaring, and the rich and famous gather at opulent, Gatsby-esque parties in the grandest ballrooms the country has to offer. 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, instead choosing 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 readers 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!
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I enjoyed this fictional glimpse into the world of the Ringling Brothers Circus. Both Mable Ringling and Rosamund Easling could have been the title character, but the English Rose is the true focus of the novel, despite the jumps between characters and back and forth in time.
This is a wonderful book about friendship, love and caring for others as well as the fun of a circus.
An emotional story that swept me away into another world. Cambron brings the circus alive with a moving story of love, adventure, and hope. A great read!
Kristy Cambron’s research into the world of the Ringling Brothers’ circus is impeccable. I fell in love with the characters — their hopes, their disappointments — and knew by the time I reached the end of the novel that this would be a book that I kept on my shelf for years to come.
BRILLIANT! Cambron expertly weaves this epic adventure of two women. I was immediately immersed into the 1920’s. I was captivated by each woman’s journey from brokenness to freedom. The spiritual truths that radiate from the pages struck a chord in my heart.
Growing up in a small town, I never had an opportunity to attend a circus. I enjoyed the fascinating peek behind the scenes that Cambron portrays. The family dynamics are intense. I’ve come to appreciate those gifted with these amazing talents. This novel will hold a special place in my heart.
Recommend to readers who enjoy inspirational, historical mysteries.
I won a copy. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
“The Ringmaster’s Wife” is an enchanting read by Kristy Cambron! The characters are well-developed, and I particularly enjoyed when historical figures made appearances alongside the fictional characters, adding a sense of reality to the story.
This book drew me in and wouldn’t let go. Even though it does some time shifts, Kristy causes it to be sooth transitions. I never felt lost about what was happening. The Ringmaster’s Wife follows two love stories with men who love their wives (to be) and do all they can to make their lives perfect and safe in the crazy circus world in which they live. A great read!
I grew up in the era of going to the circus. The book brought back many memories. An insight into the inner world of the circus “family”. A tale of courage and adventure wrapped up in a love story.
I live near the Circus museum and love to go there! Reading this wonderful book brought me into the midway. What a commitment!
I believe each person brings to a book their own knowledge, impressions, and memories of the material presented. Because of that, this book was most meaningful to me. As a child of the 50’s, I went to the circus every year. It was a magical trip, and the show was always amazing. The writing style of this book follows two dynamic women, Rosamund Easling and Mable Ringling. Because each of their stories are told separately, the reader is held in suspense as to how the two ladies will become friends and influence each other’s lives. Some find this writing technique irritable. But I found it to be delightful. The book is fiction, but it has many facts about the Ringlings that are true. The author is very insightful in the wisdom she dispenses through her characters. For example: John Ringling is speaking to his wife Mable, “There are times when making decisions alone is to a person’s advantage. But not in a marriage. Not for us. We carry the same sword, you and I.”
This book is to be savored. If you’ve lived long enough to have had the pleasure of attending a real circus. You will be taken back to your childhood and enjoy that experience all over again.
What kid doesn’t like the circus? Lions and tigers and bears and the ability to fly on the trapeze or ride a horse standing up. Death defying acts that amaze and thrill. But what went on behind the scenes is even more amazing and Kristy Cambron brings the majesty to life in The Ringmasters Wife. Artfully told, the story delves into the lives of Rose and Mable, a star trick rider and John Ringling’s wife, before they joined the circus and after. I longed with them as they searched for their purpose. I thrilled with them as they found their joy. I wept with them as they plunged into heartache. Every life is full of highs and lows and we do our best to muddle on, but these two characters are truly star attractions, both in the circus and out. A wonderful story that will touch the hearts of readers of all ages. It makes we want to see the circus again!
Wow. This was my first ever Kristy Cambron book, but after reading this one, she’s become one of my favorite authors.
This book was so amazing and wonderful. I fell in love with all the characters and really didn’t want to leave them behind when I finished it. This book also really think and the lessons I learned throughout will really stick with me for a long time to come.
I enjoyed reading Kristy Cambron’s Hidden Masterpiece series set in World War II. Her new book The Ringmaster’s Wife is set in the late nineteenth century and the 1920’s.
Cambron does a good job at knowing her history. She does a good job at knowing how a circus runs and how many people need to be working on the team, in order, for the circus to perform night after night. I never once doubted that the acts the characters were doing were not real, even though I, personally, have never seen a circus live. Cambron wraps me in this world and allows my imagination to take flight.
While I enjoyed the story, the plot did drag a little in the middle. There was a mystery that takes place on the side, but it really gets shoved to the side, even by Rose who believes it is really nothing to worry about. Rose kept wanting to go home to England over and over again, but Colin keeps changing her mind, keeping Rose in the circus act.
From the title of the story The Ringmaster’s Wife, I thought the story was going to be completely about Mable and John Ringling’s love story. But I was wrong. For the longest time, I watched the story of Rose and her immersion into the circus as a bareback rider. Yes, I watched Mable leave her home farm and rush to the city, searching for her dreams, which she believes she finds in John, but the story doesn’t focus on them that much. Their plot seemed not to be as important to the story as Rose and Colin’s.
I recommend The Ringmaster’s Wife to fans of Cambron’s other works or anyone who is fans of circus’ and historical fiction. It is a nice way to spend a couple of hours.
With dreams flying high across the tightrope, Kristy Cambron’s The Ringmaster’s Wife invited me into a world of wild animals and daring acts of the Ringling Bros. circus. Cambron’s research is suburb, inviting me into the crazy, yet organized world of a circus. With attention to detail, Cambron focuses on the idea of chasing one’s dream with Mable and Rose.
I received a complimentary copy of The Ringmaster’s Wife from Thomas Nelson publishing and the opinions stated are all my own.
I received this book for an honest review from The Fiction Guild. It was a wonderful story about 2 different women who come together because of the Ringling Circus. Mable is from a small town and moves to the big city because she wants to see the world and fall in love with John Ringling and helps in own way with the circus. And there is Rosamund who comes from a family of money and she is a Lady from England. But they come to help each other when they move the winter home of the circus to Fl. Lady Rose has come to America to make sure that the Arabian horse that she once owned is going to be fine and falls in the with the Circus because it gives her the freedom she didn’t have in England. Colin found her doing shows on her horse without her family ever knowing. This was a beautiful story and a wonderful ending.
Spanning from 1885 to 1929, Kristy Cambron’s latest title The Ringmaster’s Wife, pulls back the curtain of glamour and glitz to reveal the true nature of life under the Big Top. Readers are in for a treat as Cambron has penned a great adventure with a touch of mystery and a whole lot of heart.
In this immersive story I developed a great respect for Mabel Ringling. Her relationship and subsequent marriage to Circus King John Ringling came across as one of mutual love and respect. I admired Mabel’s wisdom and how her focus always seemed to be on people rather than the business. Mabel’s story is interwoven with that of a fictional character named Lady Rosamund Easling. From the moment Rosamund is recruited into the circus by Colin, the two share a special chemistry. Cumulatively their stories speak of bravely pursuing our dreams, forgiveness, and the freedom that is found in love.
With her departure from WWII historical fiction, Kristy Cambron offers fans another side of herself. The Ringmaster’s Wife struck me as more contemplative than her first two works. While at points it felt somber, the overall message is inspiring. The author deftly captures the vintage mystique of the Ringling Circus and infuses it with poignant interpersonal stories. Like the scenes that played out in my mind, I believe a movie adaptation would be stupendous! See for yourself by pre-ordering The Ringmaster’s Wife today (releases June 7th).
I received this book from the author for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Enjoyed a look at the early Ringling Circus And that time in our history
I really enjoyed learning about the characters. I love the way the book built on itself to describe incidents from past and present and how they relates to the characters. Such a great read!
This is one of the best books I’ve ever read, and I read a lot!