The Ringmaster's Wife

By: Kristy Cambron

Narrated by: Amy Rubinate

Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

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!

©2016 Kristy Cambron (P)2016 Thomas Nelson Publishers

Critic reviews

"Vibrant with the glamour and awe that flourished under the Big Top in the 1920s, The Ringmaster's Wife invites the reader [into] the Greatest Show on Earth." (Joanne Bischof, award-winning author of The Lady and the Lionheart)

Stunning

The narrator did amazing switching from British to American to Irish to French to Italian accents every five minutes. And the story itself was captivating. I never wanted it to end.

Great Read

An excellent book. Well written, intriguing and simply a great read. This book grabbed me from the first page and kept me entertained throughout. Even through it was all about the circus, I thought Kristy Cambron had enough diversity and intrigue to keep the reader thoroughly entertained, while at the same time taking time to lay out the plot in an insightful manner. It was one of those books that I hated to end. Great book! Can't wait for more from this author.

Grace and love

This story pulls you in. It is a sweeping saga that tells the untold story of the circus. It deals with deep emotions and decisions that change the lives of the characters. Mabel is an uncommon woman. The effect she has on each character is what holds the story together. I couldn't stop listening!

absolutely loved

this was such a fantastic read! simple storytelling, well read by the narrator, and kept you interested every step of the way. I loved all the characters and honestly will always love a good circus story.

A unique look at the Ringling romance

Fantastic story with a unique twist on historical fiction‘s viewpoint of John and Mabel Ringling‘s romance. I live only 10 miles from the Ca’D’Zan in Sarasota so I loved the history that this story provided and gave me more insight and I can’t wait to go back and walk the grounds once again. Great job in the narration with the accents, it was very believable. A wonderful story you won’t regret it.

HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT !!!!

I purchased this book because I was hoping it would contain details about the Big Top back in its hay day. I thoroughly enjoyed Water for the Elephants and all the historical details it provided about life in the circus. If you're looking for that in this story, you'll be severely disappointed. Hardly any interesting details where included although it does follow the life of John and Mabel Ringling. The storytelling was written like a harlequin novel without the bodice wripping effect. This book also contain one cliche after another.... Ridiculously written.

Story ok

The story was ok. It was sappy at times. I almost didn’t listen to it due to the narrator’s voice which contributed to the sappiness.