The Rope Dancer

A stunning picture book biography about the tightrope walker who dazzled Paris as she danced across the sky with impeccable balance and unparalleled skill during the French Revolution. In revolutionary France, a girl named Marguerite Lalanne longed to perform above large crowds on a tightrope, just like her acrobatic parents. Sneaking off to the fairgrounds for secret tightrope walking lessons, Marguerite finessed her performance skills, ultimately performing for crowds as a young rope dancer. And eventually, Marguerite would perform as Madame Saqui, waltzing and pirouetting across- and never falling off- countless ropes above adoring crowds. A nouvelle chérie de Paris, Madame Saqui cemented her place in circus history, winning the adoration of the French people and royalty alike, including Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. This remarkable biography unveils the inspiring story of a trailblazing woman who revolutionized the circus world-- without ever missing a step.

"A master storyteller!"—RT Book Reviews She Bewitches With Her Dance... Carys's livelihood depends on her agility, beauty, and balance. She enchants crowds with her exhilarating rope dance, but one wrong move leads to disaster—a twisted ankle and no way to survive. Alone and unprotected in war–torn England, she has no one to trust but a handsome stranger—a man most unlikely to give up his wandering ways. He Enchants With His Song... Telor is a man skilled with his hands. A gifted musician who rejects city life to travel the country on his own terms—free of any master. Taking on an injured girl will only slow him down. But Carys's bold nature and haunted past intrigue him, and he soon discovers that beneath the beautiful exterior is a woman with a passion to rival his own. With over eight million books in print, award–winning author Roberta Gellis sets the standard for captivating medieval romance filled with passion and pageantry. Praise for The Rope Dancer: "An extremely entertaining and delightful tale with three of the most charming and unusual characters to come along in a great while."—Rebecca Brandewyne, bestselling author of Rose of Rapture

"A master storyteller!" — RT Book Reviews Unequalled in her art, Carys danced in manor and village. Love was a stranger to this little rope dancer until Telor came along, the wandering minstrel whose love for her made his songs sweeter and more passionate. An exquisite novel of historical romance during the golden age of chivalry, from the bestselling author of A Tapestry of Dreams. Carys's livelihood depends on her agility, beauty, and balance. She enchants crowds with her exhilarating rope dance, but one wrong move leads to disaster—a twisted ankle and no way to survive. Alone and unprotected in war–torn England, she has no one to trust but a handsome stranger—a man most unlikely to give up his wandering ways. Telor is a man skilled with his hands. A gifted musician who rejects city life to travel the country on his own terms—free of any master. Taking on an injured girl will only slow him down. But Carys's bold nature and haunted past intrigue him, and he soon discovers that beneath the beautiful exterior is a woman with a passion to rival his own. A richly detailed medieval historical romance, fans of Julie Garwood, Johanna Lindsay, and Mercedes Lackey will delight in the sweet, lively romance between Carys and Telor. With over eight million books in print, award–winning author Roberta Gellis sets the standard for sweeping storytelling full of passion and pageantry. Publishers Weeklyhas termed her a master of the medieval historical. Her many awards include: The Silver and Gold Medal Porgy for historical novels from West Coast Review of Books and the Golden Certificate and Golden Pen from Affaire de Coeur, several Romantic Times book awards and also their Lifetime Achievement Award. What readers are saying about Rope Dancer: "unusual characters and lively action" "It's an adventure! It's a historical romance! Sometimes it's hot!" "one of the premier romance writers" "a rollicking, adventurous, sweet and even kind of hot book." What reviewers are saying about Rope Dancer: "An extremely entertaining and delightful tale with three of the most charming and unusual characters to come along in a great while."—Rebecca Brandewyne, bestselling author ofRose of Rapture What everyone is saying about Roberta Gellis: "Exciting, romantic, and utterly satisfying." -Mary Jo Putney "Enjoy the work's rich tapestry of detail, well-drawn characters, suspenseful story line, deft meshing of factual and fictional incidents and fresh approach." -Publishers Weekly "Roberta Gellis is a superb storyteller of extraordinary talent." -John Jakes, #1 bestselling author of The Gods of Newport

A domestic drama set at the turn of the century.