"The Carousel Painter" Book Review and Giveaway!

"The Carousel Painter"
by
Judith Miller

After her father's death, artist Carrie Brouwer moves to Collinswood, Ohio, where she accepts a job in the carousel factory owned by her friend Augusta's father. On her first day, she discovers she's the only woman in the plant, and the men resent her---especially the manager, Josef Kaestner. Can she win his respect---and perhaps his love?

352 pages, softcover from Bethany.
MY REVIEW:
(My husband with our son Quinn on our local carousel / my daughter Chloe (in the hat) on the same carousel)
I love carousels. There is something very romantic about carousels. We are fortunate enough in my small town to have an original carousel that has been restored and is open to the public during the summer to ride. They even made an amazing acquisition a few years ago and bought an original calliope as well, so the music playing while the carousel turns is real calliope music. Because of this I was really intrigued by the storyline that Judith puts forth in her newest book. The intricate workings of the carousel factory really piqued my interest and I loved reading the description of how the carousel horses were made. The way new designs are developed and how a beautiful horse can be ruined. All of this was fascinating to me.

Even better though was the storyline itself that introduced me to a lovely character, Miss Carrington Brouwer. Here is a young lady that has been dealt a hard hand in life. Her mother passed away and now her father has died as well and she leaves France to come to America to stay with a friend because she has been left penniless with only two of her father's paintings to her name. Her friend Augusta Galloway's mother is less than pleased to have someone staying with them and so she quickly tries to find a way to make it on her own and starts working as a painter at Mr. Galloway's Carousel Factory. She has much working against her. No other women work there and she is not welcomed. Even though she is an artist, fellow workers don't consider that adequate training, and the factory manager seems to have a problem with her. She must try and find a way to fit in, discover her faith in God through the many accusations that come her way, and maybe find God's will for her life and love along the way.

This is a quaint story that I really enjoyed. For a good historical romance with a touch of mystery, pick up "The Carousel Painter".
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Judith has offered a copy of her brand new book for one lucky reader! Leave a comment telling me about the last time you were on a carousel and I will enter you in the drawing (as long as your email address is included). Judith also offered a few comments for all of you...

(a carousel horse at the Allan Hershell Carousel Museum and one of me outside the museum)
I’d love to have them visit my website at www.judithmccoymiller.com for information on additional books and they can also sign up for my newsletter while they’re at the website. I send it out about four times a year and there are always giveaways when I do my newsletter. I totally enjoyed conducting my research on this project and learned a great deal about carousels and developed a genuine respect for the artisans who created these beautiful works of art. Even though I have no other books planned about carousels, I’m going to attend the National Carousel Convention the end of September to learn even more.