The best thing about the story was the history it was based on. This was based on the house of the John and Mabel Ringling (Ca d'Zan) and a fictional mystery set there. The book had several mysteries along the way and I liked our main characters approach to dealing with one of the mysteries - Didn't get dramatic but dealt with it in a straight forward manner.

I liked the concurrent time periods of the stories - one set in the present day, the other set in the time of the heroine's great grandmother. This was like reading two stories in one and I liked the way they intertwined.

This is the first time I have read this author and I would be interested in reading more of her books. This one was one I got free in exchange for an honest review. It's made me want to see what else she has written.

HIGH-WIRE HEARTBREAK by ANNA SCHMIDT is a dual timeline novel taking place in Sarasota Florida at circus magnate, John Ringling’s, winter estate, in both time periods. I found this novel to be a most delightful read, with a well formed plot, unforgettable characters and a subtle Christian message. It is a story of hard times and new beginnings.
When famous author, Chloe Whitfield, comes to the beautiful old Ringling estate, which is now a museum, she meets Dr Ian Flanner who is in charge of the place and its renovation. He, together with others who work at the museum, is very knowledgable about its history and architecture. Chloe is there to get inspiration for her next historical thriller for which the intriguing Ca D’Zan (House of John) will provide the setting. As she looks into the history, she is fascinated by the story of Lucinda Conroy, the famous aerialist who she believes is her great grandmother.
Running parallel to Chloe’s story, and eventually tying into it, is Lucinda Conroy and Bernardo Russi’s story which starts in 1936 with Lucinda performing a triple back somersault with her partner Bernardo at John Ringling’s seventieth birthday party. Lucy and Nardo’s story is both heart wrenching and heartwarming.
This is a refreshingly different and most enjoyable read and one I cannot recommend highly enough.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Barbour Publishing The opinions in this review are completely my own.

I loved this book SO MUCH. The characters, the setting, the HISTORY. So rich, so enthralling. Is book truly evoked so many emotions...my heart broke in places, and in others I teared up because of joy. Becoming a mother has changed so much of how I process different events in books, and wow, did this book ever pull at those heartstrings. Anna Schmidt definitely provided a rich reading experience! I loved how the mystery unfolded in the past and present so seamlessly.

The only issue I have with this book is the title. There is not one mention of a tightrope or “high-wire”. Lucy is an aerialist—a trapeze artist. I’m sure it’s possible she could’ve walked on one, but it was never mentioned.

This was fun read. I really enjoyed the characters and the dual timeline stories and how they intersected. While there is some heartbreak, at one point I had tears of joy.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

In this dual-timeline mystery, successful writer Chloe Whitfield spends her summer on site at the Ringling mansion in Sarasota, Florida, researching her forthcoming book. While there, she plans to look into her own family's mystery. According to family lore, Chloe's great-grandmother had been a famous trapeze artist with the Ringling Brothers circus. However, Lucinda Conroy seemed to disappear without a trace, abandoning her daughter--Chloe's grandmother--to an orphanage. Chapters alternate between Chloe's story, set in 2022, and Lucinda's story, which begins in 1936. Chloe's book deadline looms, but the deeper she gets into Lucinda's story, the less able she is to write her own. Meanwhile, mysterious happenings on the grounds of Ringling's Gilded Age mansion create suspense--and provide an opportunity for romance to bloom.

The Gilded Age is one of my favorite story settings, so I was immediately drawn in by the rich historical and architectural detail about the Ringling mansion. The author is clear that most of the characters and situations in the book are fictional, but the author's research on the Ringling family, the mansion, and the era resulted in a not-so-run-of-the-mill historical mystery. My only wish is that the faith of the characters had been more fully developed.