Artistry and Inspiration!

Joanna Politano’s books are not only well written but convey a depth of spiritual and emotional layers wrapped elegantly around a beautiful storyline. Such was the case with her latest book, A Midnight Dance. Mixing elements of mystery and romance, I appreciated how the author wove faith elements of God’s love, care and grace as a natural part of the story, especially as Ella incorporated Bible verses into her dance style. I have read and enjoyed all of Ms. Politano’s books as she is an auto-read author for me. True to her excellent writing style, there were definite twists that caught me by surprise and had me rethinking how I thought the story would develop. Also, as someone who knows little about ballet, this book gave me much insight into Victorian era ballet and theater. The well written, multi-faceted storyline and inspirational messages had me turning pages toward a highly satisfying conclusion!

I received an advanced review copy from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed here are my own.

Ella Blythe knows all too well that theater and romance don’t mix — at least not romances with happy endings. Regardless, she hopes that someday her story will turn out differently and look nothing like the tragic legend surrounding the Ghost of Craven Street Theater that haunts the halls. But the harder she works to hold her place in the shrinking ballet, competing against dancers who have years of formal training unlike her, the more her life resembles that of the dead ballerina. As she attempts to catch the eye of the principal dancer Philippe while avoiding notorious flirt Jack, Ella fears that some fates cannot be escaped.

An evocative story where nothing is what it seems, A Midnight Dance is simultaneously haunting and captivating. An atmospheric read that drags readers into the tragic depths of the theater, Joanna Davidson Politano pens a story brimming with unpredictable twists and turns. For every one thing I figured out there were three more I didn’t see coming. The end came too soon and not fast enough as I devoured the story, hungry to uncover the hidden truths and know the fate of the characters who burrowed themselves deeply in my heart.

This is one of those reviews I don’t want to write because anything I say won’t do the story justice. The characters are complex and brilliantly composed. They are prime examples of the truth behind cliches such as not judging by appearances. Every time I felt certain I had a character pegged and knew whether s/he was to be trusted or not, rooted for or not, Politano would go and knock all my assumptions upside down. Then she’d go on to do it a few more times.

The setting, masterfully penned, doesn’t lay flat on the page. It comes to life immersing the reader in the darkness and beauty of the theater. The sights, the emotions, and the story stick long after reading the final word. I strongly recommend A Midnight Dance to fans of ballet, Victorian mysteries, and unforgettable novels.

This book held within its pages as much grace and drama as ballet itself. Politano is an artist, painting pictures with her words and digging deep to far corners of ever readers’ hearts. I loved this unique view into the history of theater and ballet and how we can worship God in the form of dance. The mystery woven within kept me turning the pages until the very last with a satisfied sigh

What a beautiful, twisty story! The main character, Ella, is sympathetic and imperfect, making her quest to be "enough" easy to identify with for me. And don't get me started on Jack and how your perception of him will evolve as the story progresses! I was intrigued to learn about the world of early 19th-century ballet. In addition to the great characters and interesting setting, there were so many twists to the story, enough that even though I figured a couple out ahead of time, I was still surprised by several others. Overall, another wonderful book from this author.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Revell for the eARC of this story in exchange for my honest review!

A Midnight Dance is another enthralling read from Joanna Davidson Politano.

I have loved Politano’s books ever since I discovered A Rumored Fortune on Kindle Unlimited. Her lyrical writing and gothic flair quickly made her a favorite. A Midnight Dance simply solidified her place in my must-read list.

Ella is a relatable character who immediately drew me into the story. I enjoyed watching her try to find her place in the company while holding tight to her convictions. For me, this made the spiritual thread highly relatable, especially since I too have become distracted by the world.

I also enjoyed trying to unravel the mystery alongside Ella. With plenty of twists and turns, the mystery had me riveted. And the romance had me falling in love alongside her. The ending was a surprise, although there was one plot twist I was quite proud of myself for figuring out. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil it for you.

Overall, A Midnight Dance is an enthralling read perfect for fans of gothic romance and historical fiction.

(Review will go live on the blog 8/13/21 at 12 pm EST.)

Another masterpiece by Joanna Davidson Politano. Beautifully written. Memorable characterization. Mysterious. Excellent storytelling. Savor this novel. You will not be disappointed. Five stars.

The latest novel by Joanna Politano takes readers backstage to the world of professional ballet in the late 1800s, in London, England.
Ella’s paternal parentage is a mystery, but from where the deep passion she has for ballet comes from, is not. After a mysterious benefactor allows her the opportunity to study the art in Paris, she comes back to London to dance on contract in the very building where her parents met.
Ella works hard, but still has trouble fitting in with the rest of the dancers. She keeps her mother’s identity hidden from the rest of the troupe (a famous ballerina who danced with red shoes), hoping to gain lead roles on her own merit.
There’s a lot of mystery and intrigue that follows Ella as she tries to uncover details to a tragic fire that her mother used to fake her own death. She discovers that no one is to be trusted, especially ballerinas.
A cast of colourful characters make for an interesting read – divas, principal ballerinas, choreographers, producers, high society, circus people and nurse maids. And I learned a lot about the world of dance through Ella’s eyes.
As always, Ms. Politano throws in a twist near the end that will leave readers contemplating the story in its entirety. Character connections and secret identities abound in the last half of the novel, making it a delightful challenge to figure out.
I received an ecopy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Once upon a time I did ballet. I was seven. It wasn't complicated. It was not on some high level, but it was ballet. I quit. I can't really remember why. I assume I was scared to get serious, to make it a chore instead of something just for fun. But when I watch ballet it looks like freedom. And if there's one thing I always crave and search for it's freedom. So, when I saw this book on Netgalley I pressed request before I could think about it. I hoped to find a bit of freedom in this book.

The atmosphere of this book is amazing. The writing style in this book is in some way poetic and it feels like there is a rhythm, a cadence in the words and sentences. It's almost like the book doesn't just use descriptions to make us experience and envision the ballet scenes, it also uses its word to make us hear and feel and read the music and the steps. Therefore I flew through the book, almost literally, because despite the sometimes heavy story the words felt featherlight.

Of course the ballet scenes played a huge part in the story, but all the described scenes had a meaning, had a deeper layer, were more than just a dancing scene. The ballet scenes our heroine danced, mirrored her life experience, her growth as both a dancer and a person, the history she was trying to uncover and explore. The dancing followed the plot, it grew with both every new discovery and revelation, just like it changed with the mood of our heroine.

Therefore it felt like the heroine really came to life, just like her love interest. Of course we're mostly experiencing this journey through her eyes, which helps to understand her, to connect with her and to root for her. Throughout the story I fell a little bit in love with her and I fell in love along side her. Just like I really enjoyed her relationship with God. There were quite a few powerful scenes where our heroine bloomed and glowed and at the end of the book I had this huge satisfied smile on my face.

A Midnight Dance
4 stars
By Joanna Davidson Politano

Book Blurb: All 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. Is she dancing ever closer to the edge of her own tragic end? Or will the secrets that are about to come to light offer release from the past?

The author takes us on another whirlwind of Gothic mystery, VIctorian atmosphere and spiritual awakening that is deep and refreshing. We're swept up into Victorian ballet alongside Ella as she pushes herself to be the best. Dancing is in her blood and she must answer the call. I learned a lot about ballet and how different it was back then to now. The theathre atmosphere is immersive and you feel like you're there from the wings to center stage. I went on an emotional roller coaster alongside Ella as she interacts with Jack. That's all I say as I don't want to put a spoiler here.
The faith content as always was perfect, Not too much and not too little. Deply felt and real. That we don't have to be perfect, we don't have to work for the Love of God. Wer're His Children and He has loved us from the first.
The only thing I kind of struggled with was the mystery of Ella's parents and their past. I struggled to understand it and got cofused a couple times but that could totally just be me. Joanna is an autobuy author for me and I will be preordering the book for it's September release!

I received a complimentry copy from Netgally. All opinions are my own.

For some reason, I didn't connect as deeply with this story and the main characters as I've connected before with others by the same author. Maybe it was the ballet or maybe it was something else that I can't put my finger on.

There's a mystery surrounding Ella, her mother, and the ballet that kept me reading to the end. To me, the story really got going around the 70% mark and the ending was very sweet.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC to review!
Rating (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being excellent)
Quality of writing: 5
Pace: 4
Plot development: 5
Characters: 5
Enjoyability: 5
Ease of Reading: 5

Overall rating: 5 out of 5

This is an enthralling novel I could not put down. This master wordsmith pens and engaging theatrical story, getting readers caught up in the misfortune that befell Ella Blythe. Her mother trained her, passed down her love of ballet and theater. Ella would do her best to continue her mothers’ legacy. She secretly hopes to find answers to her mothers’ past and desires to dance with principal dancer Phillippe. It’s a dream, but one could only hope it to come true. Ella does her best to track down answers at the Ghost of Craven Street Theater. She needed to know what really happened the night of the fire that changed everything.

This author does a brilliant job of sweeping readers into the magic of theater and the fierce competition between dancers to get coveted roles. Ella Blythe auditions to be part of the core, she didn’t want to be in the spotlight. But the judges see something in her, she can’t hide. They wonder where this girl came from. What training did she have? Where did she learn to dance so unconventionally?

I loved the theatrical setting and how the author made readers feel all the nervousness of the performers and then shows how Ella learned to set herself free (in body and mind) to dance the part she was made to play. It all comes together for her and the reader. Loved this haunting, hopeful novel that is a surprising mystery, memorable read, and one that would work well for your next book club pick and/or read for pure fun.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. 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”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

Goodness, talk about a twisty story! A Midnight Dance is officially my favorite of Joanna Davidson Politano’s novels, and that’s saying something because the others are amazing. Everything about this one is unique, from the ballet angle to the clever wonder of who the true hero is meant to be. I loved so much about this book. The beautiful prose. The heavy air of suspicion. The eclectic characters, including my FAVORITE who shall not be named because I don’t want to spoil anything.

One of the parts that connected most with me was Ella Blythe’s spiritual thread. I expected a faith element because this is Christian fiction, but the author gave us so much MORE than that. What Ella went through by trying to reconcile her passion for ballet with her love for the Lord felt so real, so relatable. Those scenes are going to stay with me for a good while.

Just when I thought I knew where this story was going, everything pivoted and spun into a direction I hadn’t even anticipated. And the romance was PERFECT.

It’s just a beautiful, thrilling story, and I highly recommend you read it.


*I received an e-copy from NetGalley and the publisher to review. This is my honest opinion.*

Honestly, I'm not sure I have words for this review. I could tell right from the opening pages that I was going to love Joanna Davidson Politano's latest....what I didn't realize was how deeply and personally this story was going to touch me. It's an absolutely beautiful book with lyrical writing, characters that tuck themselves into your heart, and surprising plot turns that heighten the stakes and deepen the tension. All of that would've been enough to make this one of my favorite reads of 2021, but Ella's emotional and spiritual journey throughout the story make it one of my favorites period. I'll be thinking and talking about this book for weeks, I know, but for now, suffice to say I pre-ordered the paperback within minutes of reaching The End. I'm absolutely in love with it and wish I could give it far more than five stars!

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.

A very enjoyable book to be sure and definitely my favorite by this author!
The reason; I've had theater experience. Only in the orchestra part of it. How I miss it! I love anything that involves the theater.
I really loved the mystery part of this book. It kept me guessing
Politano's writing makes you feel like you've traveled back to the 1830's and doesn't want to make you leave your new friends behind.
Ella is my favorite character. I loved how she handled the things that came her way.
The romance that was weaved in was perfect! I love a good romance.
In my opinion this is a book that is worth keeping on your shelf and for a book club!
Again this will be my favorite book by her.
It left me satisfied.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano is a dark Victorian novel thrown in the world of ballet. Filled with intrigue and a hunt for the truth from the past, the heroine seeks to find out the answers to who she really is and what actually draws her closer as the story dives deeper. I loved watching the hunt for the individual desire and learning who they actually are. The story features a mystery that was nicely handled and had many different layers to unfold as the story moved along. Diving into the world of Victorian ballet was different, yet interesting all at the same time. There is some romance but it nicely shadows the plot of the story. Overall, A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano is an exciting novel with many different endings that I enjoyed watching.

I received a complimentary copy of A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano is a stunning historical fiction novel that has it all: history, romance, mystery, suspense, drama, and a wonderful character cast that kept me enthralled from beginning to end.

I have loved every book I have been able to read of Ms. Politano’s in the past, and this is a great addition to her portfolio.

A historical fiction that takes place around London in the 1830s and the author is impressive in her literary descriptions of the life, landscapes, society, art, and fashions of the 19th century. I honestly felt as if I could see, feel, and sense the atmosphere and life at this time. As someone that was a en pointe dancer in my adolescence, I have a true passion still to this day for this glorious and amazing art. Her ability to bring this off the page was exquisite. It was beautiful.

I loved this unique, complex, and wonderfully written narrative of Ella Blythe and the ballet company. The twists, turns, and surprises kept me entertained and on my toes (no pun intended haha). I also enjoyed the elements of faith that were woven within. It grounded the novel and gave a sense of purpose. I also really enjoyed the ending. I won’t spoil it for the readers…but you have to read this book!

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Revell Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.